The symbiovar mediterranense of Sinorhizobium meliloti nodulates Phaseolus vulgaris across Lanzarote (Canary Islands): A revision of this symbiovar supports a proposal to delimit symbiovars boundaries in Sinorhizobium and to define four new symbiovars.

The symbiovar mediterranense of Sinorhizobium meliloti was initially found in Phaseolus vulgaris nodules in Tunisia and in an eastern location of Lanzarote (Canary Islands). Here we show that the symbiovar mediterranense of S. meliloti also nodulates P. vulgaris in two western locations of this Island. The analyses of the symbiotic nodA and nodC genes reveal the complexity of the symbiovar mediterranense which encompasses strains belonging to several phylogenetic lineages and clusters. The comparison of the nodA and nodC phylogenies showed that the nodC was the most resolutive phylogenetic marker for the delineation of Sinorhizobium symbiovars. Considering that the similarity of this gene within several symbiovars, particularly mediterranense, is around 95 %, the cut-off value for their differentiation should be lower. Considering that a nodC gene cut-off similarity value of around 92 % is accepted for the genus Bradyrhizobium and that the symbiovar concept is identical in all rhizobial genera, we propose to apply this value for symbiovars delineation within all these genera. Therefore, using this cut-off value for the nodC gene analysis of Sinorhizobium symbiovars, we propose to merge the symbiovars aegeanense and fredii into the single symbiovar fredii and to define four novel symbiovars with the names asiaense, culleni, sudanense and tunisiaense.

The Inhibition of Vessel Co-Option as an Emerging Strategy for Cancer Therapy.

Vessel co-option (VCO) is a non-angiogenic mechanism of vascularization that has been associated to anti-angiogenic therapy. In VCO, cancer cells hijack the pre-existing blood vessels and use them to obtain oxygen and nutrients and invade adjacent tissue. Multiple primary tumors and metastases undergo VCO in highly vascularized tissues such as the lungs, liver or brain. VCO has been associated with a worse prognosis. The cellular and molecular mechanisms that undergo VCO are poorly understood. Recent studies have demonstrated that co-opted vessels show a quiescent phenotype in contrast to angiogenic tumor blood vessels. On the other hand, it is believed that during VCO, cancer cells are adhered to basement membrane from pre-existing blood vessels by using integrins, show enhanced motility and a mesenchymal phenotype. Other components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) such as extracellular matrix, immune cells or extracellular vesicles play important roles in vessel co-option maintenance. There are no strategies to inhibit VCO, and thus, to eliminate resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy. This review summarizes all the molecular mechanisms involved in vessel co-option analyzing the possible therapeutic strategies to inhibit this process.

Two novel symbiovars of Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense, americaense and caribense, the symbiovar tropici of Bradyrhizobium pachyrhizi and the symbiovar cajani of Bradyrhizobium cajani are microsymbionts of the legume Cajanus cajan in Dominican Republic.

Cajanus cajan L. (guandul) is commonly cultivated in Dominican Republic where this legume is a subsistence crop. Here we identified through MALDI-TOF MS several rhizobial strains nodulating C. cajan in two Dominican locations as Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense. The phylogenetic analysis of recA and glnII housekeeping genes showed that these strains belong to a wide cluster together with the type strain of B. yuanmingense and other C. cajan nodulating strains previously isolated in Dominican Republic. The comparison of genomes from strains representative of different lineages within this cluster support the existence of several genospecies within B. yuanmingense, which is the major microsymbiont of C. cajan in Dominican Republic where it is also nodulated by Bradyrhizobium cajani and Bradyrhizobium pachyrhizi. The analysis of the symbiotic nodC gene showed that the C. cajan nodulating strains from the B. yuanmingense complex belong to two clusters with less than 90% similarity between them. The strains from these two clusters showed nodC gene similarity values lower than 90% with respect to the remaining Bradyrhizobium symbiovars and then they correspond to two new symbiovars for which we propose the names americaense and caribense. The results of the nodC gene analysis also showed that C. cajan is nodulated by the symbiovar tropici, which has been found by first time in this work within the species Bradyrhizobium pachyrhizi. These results confirmed the high promiscuity degree of C. cajan, which is also nodulated by the symbiovar cajani of Bradyrhizobium cajani in Dominican Republic.

Potential Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria with Anti-Penicillium expansum Activity from Different Species of Tunisian Edible Snails.

This study aimed to isolate lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from the digestive tract, meat and slime of edible snails (Helix lucorum, Helix aspersa and Eobania vermiculata) and investigate their antagonistic activity against Penicillium expansum. They were then characterized for their probiotic potential. Among 900 bacterial isolates, 47 LAB exhibiting anti-P. expansum activity were identified through matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) as Levilactobacillus brevis (25), Lactococcus lactis (3), Enterococcus faecium (12), Enterococcus faecalis (4), Enterococcus casseliflavus (1), and Enterococcus mundtii (2). Sixty-two percent of the strains were tolerant to 100 mg/L of lysozyme. Seventy two percent of the isolates were able to survive at pH 3 and most of them tolerate 2.5% bile salt concentration. Moreover, 23% of the strains displayed bile salt hydrolase activity. Interestingly, all strains were biofilm strong producers. However, their auto- and co-aggregation properties were time and pH dependent with high aggregative potentiality at pH 4.5 after 24 h. Remarkably, 48.94% of the strains showed high affinity to chloroform. The safety assessment revealed that the 47 LAB had no hemolytic activity and 64% of them lacked mucin degradation activity. All isolated strains were susceptible to gentamycin, streptomycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Overall, 43 LAB strains showed inhibitory activity against a broad spectrum of pathogenic Gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, fungi, and yeast. Our findings suggest that L. brevis (EVM12 and EVM14) and Ent. faecium HAS34 strains could be potential candidates for probiotics with interesting antibacterial and anti-P. expansum activities.

Six novel Micromonospora species associated with the phyllosphere and roots of leguminous plants: Micromonospora alfalfae sp. nov., Micromonospora cabrerizensis sp. nov., Micromonospora foliorum sp. nov., Micromonospora hortensis sp. nov., Micromonospora salmantinae sp. nov., and Micromonospora trifolii sp. nov.

Six actinobacterial strains isolated from diverse legume tissues collected in various locations in Spain were characterized to determine their taxonomic status. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the strains were primarily identified as members of the genus Micromonospora with more than 99 % similarity. Digital DNA-DNA hybridization values and average nucleotide identities between the six strains and the nearest type strains confirmed that each strain represented a novel species. Genome sequences were analysed to infer their metabolic profiles, their potential to produce secondary metabolites and plant growth promoting features. Chemotaxonomic and physiological studies were carried out to complete the phenotypic characterization and to distinguish the new Micromonospora species. The genomic and phenotypic characterization of the Micromonospora strains strongly support their classification as representatives of new species with the following names: Micromonospora alfalfae sp. nov., Micromonospora cabrerizensis sp. nov., Micromonospora foliorum sp. nov., Micromonospora hortensis sp. nov., Micromonospora salmantinae sp. nov. and Micromonospora trifolii sp. nov., with the type strains MED01T, LAH09T, PSH25T, NIE111T, PSH03T and NIE79T, respectively.

Applications of MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry to the Identification of Parasites and Arthropod Vectors of Human Diseases.

Arthropod vectors and parasites are identified morphologically or, more recently, by molecular methods. Both methods are time consuming and require expertise and, in the case of molecular methods, specific devices. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) identification of bacteria has meant a major change in clinical microbiology laboratories because of its simplicity, speed and specificity, and its capacity to identify microorganisms, in some cases, directly from the sample (urine cultures, blood cultures). Recently, MALDI-TOF MS has been shown as useful for the identification of some parasites. On the other hand, the identification of vector arthropods and the control of their populations is essential for the control of diseases transmitted by arthropods, and in this aspect, it is crucial to have fast, simple and reliable methods for their identification. Ticks are blood-sucking arthropods with a worldwide distribution, that behave as efficient vectors of a wide group of human and animal pathogens, including bacteria, protozoa, viruses, and even helminths. They are capable of parasitizing numerous species of mammals, birds and reptiles. They constitute the second group of vectors of human diseases, after mosquitoes. MALDI-TOF MS has been shown as useful for the identification of different tick species, such as Ixodes, Rhipicephalus and Amblyomma. Some studies even suggest the possibility of being able to determine, through MALDI-TOF MS, if the arthropod is a carrier of certain microorganisms. Regarding mosquitoes, the main group of vector arthropods, the possibility of using MALDI-TOF MS for the identification of different species of Aedes and Anopheles has also been demonstrated. In this review, we address the possibilities of this technology for the identification of parasites and arthropod vectors, its characteristics, advantages and possible limitations.

Insight into the Taxonomic and Functional Diversity of Bacterial Communities Inhabiting Blueberries in Portugal.

Vaccinium myrtillus is a dwarf shrub of the Ericaceae family with a Palearctic distribution, associated with temperate and cold humid climates. It is widespread on the European continent; on the Iberian Peninsula it is located on Atlantic climate mountains and glacial relicts. In Portugal, we find scattered and interesting populations; however, the majority of them are threatened by climate change and wildfires. Given that, the objective of this study is to determine the rhizospheric and root bacterial communities of this plant in the southernmost regions, and, consequently, its potential range and ability to be used as a biofertilizer. In this work, metabarcoding of 16S rRNA gene showed that the endophytic bacterial diversity is dependent on the plant and selected by it according to the observed alpha and beta diversity. Moreover, a culturomic approach allowed 142 different strains to be isolated, some of them being putative new species. Additionally, some strains belonging to the genera Bacillus, Paenibacillus, Pseudomonas, Paraburkholderia, and Caballeronia showed significant potential to be applied as multifunctional biofertilizers since they present good plant growth-promoting (PGP) mechanisms, high colonization capacities, and an increase in vegetative parameters in blueberry and tomato plants.

Gordonia pseudamarae sp. nov., a home for novel actinobacteria isolated from stable foams on activated sludge wastewater treatment plants.

The taxonomic status of two Gordonia strains, designated BEN371 and CON9T, isolated from stable foams on activated sludge plants was the subject of a polyphasic study which also included the type strains of Gordonia species and three authenticated Gordonia amarae strains recovered from such foams. Phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that these isolates formed a compact cluster suggesting a well-supported lineage together with a second branch containing the G. amarae strains. A phylogenomic tree based on sequences of 92 core genes extracted from whole genome sequences of the isolates, the G. amarae strains and Gordonia type strains confirmed the assignment of the isolates and the G. amarae strains to separate but closely associated lineages. Average nucleotide index (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridisation (dDDH) similarities showed that BEN371 and CON9T belonged to the same species and had chemotaxonomic and morphological features consistent with their assignment to the genus Gordonia. The isolates and the G. amarae strains were distinguished using a range of phenotypic features and by low ANI and dDDH values of 84.2 and 27.0 %, respectively. These data supplemented with associated genome characteristics show that BEN371 and CON9T represent a novel species of the genus Gordonia. The name proposed for members of this taxon is Gordonia pseudamarae sp. nov. with isolate CON9T (=DSM 43602T=JCM 35249T) as the type strain.

Endothelial Activin Receptor-Like Kinase 1 (ALK1) Regulates Myofibroblast Emergence and Peritubular Capillary Stability in the Early Stages of Kidney Fibrosis.

Renal tubulo-interstitial fibrosis is characterized by the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the tubular interstitium during chronic kidney disease. The main source of ECM proteins are emerging and proliferating myofibroblasts. The sources of myofibroblasts in the renal tubular interstitium have been studied during decades, in which the epithelial contribution of the myofibroblast population through the epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT) process was assumed to be the major mechanism. However, it is now accepted that the EMT contribution is very limited and other mechanisms such as the proliferation of local resident fibroblasts or the transdifferentiation of endothelial cells seem to be more relevant. Activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ALK1) is a type I receptor which belongs to the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß) superfamily, with a key role in tissue fibrosis and production of ECM by myofibroblast. Predominantly expressed in endothelial cells, ALK1 also plays an important role in angiogenesis and vessel maturation, but the relation of these processes with kidney fibrosis is not fully understood. We show that after 3 days of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), ALK1 heterozygous mice (Alk1 +/- ) display lower levels of kidney fibrosis associated to a lower number of myofibroblasts. Moreover, Alk1 +/- mice have a lower degree of vascular rarefaction, showing improved peritubular microvasculature after UUO. All these data suggest an important role of ALK1 in regulating vascular rarefaction and emergence of myofibroblasts.

Strain ATCC 4720T is the authentic type strain of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, which is not a later heterotypic synonym of Agrobacterium radiobacter.

The original type strains of Agrobacterium radiobacter and Agrobacterium tumefaciens recorded in the eighth edition of Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology published in 1974 were NCIB 9042T and ATCC 4720T, respectively. However, in the list of the valid names of bacteria compiled in 1980, both strains were changed, A. radiobacter NCIB 9042T to ATCC 19358T and A. tumefaciens ATCC 4720T to ATCC 23308T. These changes were unjustified, particularly in the case of A. tumefaciens whose type strain was replaced by another strain from the same collection, although the original type strain ATCC 4720T was never lost and it is currently available in several culture collections. Therefore, we request that the type strain of A. tumefaciens be corrected from ATCC 23308T to ATCC 4720T.

Identification of Species and Subspecies of Lactic Acid Bacteria Present in Spanish Cheeses Type "Torta" by MALDI-TOF MS and pheS gene Analyses.

Several artisanal cheeses are elaborated in European countries, being commonly curdled with rennets of animal origin. However, in some Spanish regions some cheeses of type "Torta" are elaborated using Cynara cardunculus L. rennets. Two of these cheeses, "Torta del Casar" and "Torta de Trujillo", are elaborated in Cáceres province with ewe's raw milk and matured over at least 60 days without starters. In this work, we identified the lactic acid bacteria present in these cheeses using MALDI-TOF MS and pheS gene analyses, which showed they belong to the species Lactobacillus curvatus, Lactobacillus diolivorans, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactococcus lactis and Leuconostoc mesenteroides. The pheS gene analysis also allowed the identification of the subspecies La. plantarum subsp. plantarum, La. paracasei subsp. paracasei and Le. mesenteroides subsp. jonggajibkimchii. Low similarity values were found in this gene for some currently accepted subspecies of Lc. lactis and for the two subspecies of La. plantarum, and values near to 100% for the subspecies of Le. mesenteroides and La. paracasei. These results, which were confirmed by the calculated ANIb and dDDH values of their whole genomes, showed the need to revise the taxonomic status of these species and their subspecies.

Urinary TCP1-eta: A Cortical Damage Marker for the Pathophysiological Diagnosis and Prognosis of Acute Kidney Injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious syndrome with increasing incidence and health consequences, and high mortality rate among critically ill patients. Acute kidney injury lacks a unified definition, has ambiguous semantic boundaries, and relies on defective diagnosis. This, in part, is due to the absence of biomarkers substratifying AKI patients into pathophysiological categories based on which prognosis can be assigned and clinical treatment differentiated. For instance, AKI involving acute tubular necrosis (ATN) is expected to have a worse prognosis than prerenal, purely hemodynamic AKI. However, no biomarker has been unambiguously associated with tubular cell death or is able to provide etiological distinction. We used a cell-based system to identify TCP1-eta in the culture medium as a noninvasive marker of damaged renal tubular cells. In rat models of AKI, TCP1-eta was increased in the urine co-relating with renal cortical tubule damage. When kidneys from ATN rats were perfused in situ with Krebs-dextran solution, a portion of the urinary TCP1-eta protein content excreted into urine disappeared, and another portion remained within the urine. These results indicated that TCP1-eta was secreted by tubule cells and was not fully reabsorbed by the damaged tubules, both effects contributing to the increased urinary excretion. Urinary TCP1-eta is found in many etiologically heterogeneous AKI patients, and is statistically higher in patients partially recovered from severe AKI. In conclusion, urinary TCP1-eta poses a potential, substratifying biomarker of renal cortical damage associated with bad prognosis.

Phylogenetic diversity of rhizobia nodulating Phaseolus vulgaris in Croatia and definition of the symbiovar phaseoli within the species Rhizobium pisi.

Phaseolus vulgaris is a legume indigenous to America which is currently cultivated in Europe including countries located at the Southeast of this continent, such as Croatia, where several local landraces are cultivated, most of them of Andean origin. In this work we identify at species and symbiovar levels several fast-growing strains able to form effective symbiosis with P. vulgaris in different Croatian soils. The identification at species level based on MALDI-TOF MS and core gene sequence analysis showed that most of these strains belong to the species R. leguminosarum, R. hidalgonense and R. pisi. In addition, several strains belong to putative new species phylogenetically close to R. ecuadorense and R. sophoriradicis. All Croatian strains belong to the symbiovar phaseoli and harbour the α and γ nodC alleles typical for American strains of this symbiovar. Nevertheless, most of Croatian strains harboured the γ nodC gene allele supporting its Andean origin since it is also dominant in other European countries, where Andean cultivars of P. vulgaris are traditionally cultivated, as occurs in Spain. The only strains harbouring the α nodC allele belong to R. hidalgonense and R. pisi, this last only containing the symbiovars viciae and trifolii to date. This is the first report about the presence in Europe of the species R. hidalgonense, the nodulation of P. vulgaris by R. pisi and the existence of the symbiovar phaseoli within this species. These results significantly increase the knowledge of the biogeography of Rhizobium-P. vulgaris symbiosis.

Sample Treatment for Urine Proteomics.

Urine is a biological fluid that can be collected noninvasively in relatively large quantities which can be used for the search of biomarkers of disease, both diseases of the urological tract and systemic diseases. One of the most important aspects in proteomic studies is sample treatment before further analysis. Methods of preparation of a urine sample depend on the techniques that will be used later for separation and identification of the proteins. Also, urine preparation should be as simple as possible to increase reproducibility. Normal urine has a much diluted protein concentration with a high-salt content, which interferes with proteomic analysis. Thus, an initial step in the handling of urine sample should be to concentrate and eliminate salts. As range of protein concentrations in urine spans several orders of magnitude, effective proteomic analyses require either removal of most abundant protein or enrichment of the less abundant ones. In this chapter, we discuss the aspects related to the collection and treatment of urine for proteomic studies.

Summation of peaks and L34 ribosomal protein in the presence and absence of antibiotics enables susceptibility testing using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry in 2h from Escherichia coli-positive blood cultures.

INTRODUCTION: We have developed a MALDI-TOF-mediated phenotypic method, which determines antibiotic susceptibility (AS) from positive blood cultures (BCs) in 2h. We developed a software for process automation. We report results on Escherichia coli-positive BCs with cefotaxime (CTX) and ciprofloxacin (CIP). METHODS: We studied CIP and CTX activity in 18 and 17 real E. coli-positive BCs, and in 56 and 45 spiked BCs, respectively. Positive BCs were incubated for 2h without any antibiotics, and with 2mg/l and 4mg/l of CIP and CTX. The extraction was performed using ethanol/formic acid. Spectra were processed with specifically developed software which compares the peaks' intensity and the size of specific peaks. RESULTS: The set cut-off point was a 3-fold decrease in the summation of all peaks and/or the 5382m/z peak value (ribosomal protein L34). In simulated BCs, the correlation of CIP 2mg/l and 4mg/l with Etest® was 94.6% and 98.2%, respectively; for CTX 2mg/l and 4mg/l, this correlation was 95.6%. In real BCs, the correlations were 100% for CIP (2mg/l and 4mg/l) and 88.2% and 94.1% for CTX 2mg/l and 4mg/l, respectively. Resistant isolates were always correctly classified. CONCLUSION: This method provides accurate, fast and inexpensive AS information. The method can be automated, making it easier to implement in a microbiology laboratory routine.

Phaseolus vulgaris is nodulated by the symbiovar viciae of several genospecies of Rhizobium laguerreae complex in a Spanish region where Lens culinaris is the traditionally cultivated legume.

Phaseolus vulgaris and Lens culinaris are two legumes with different distribution centers that were introduced in Spain at different times, but in some regions L. culinaris has been traditionally cultivated and P. vulgaris did not. Here we analysed the rhizobia isolated from nodules of these two legumes in one of these regions. MALDI-TOF MS analysis showed that all isolated strains matched with Rhizobium laguerreae and the phylogenetic analysis of rrs, atpD and recA genes confirmed these results. The phylogenetic analysis of these core genes allowed the differentiation of several groups within R. laguerreae and unexpectedly, strains with housekeeping genes identical to that of the type strain of R. laguerreae presented some differences in the rrs gene. In some strains this gene contains an intervening sequence (IVS) identical to that found in Rhizobium strains nodulating several legumes in different geographical locations. The atpD, recA and nodC genes of all isolated strains clustered with those of strains nodulating L. culinaris in its distribution centers, but not with those nodulating P. vulgaris in theirs. Therefore, all these strains belong to the symbiovar viciae, including those isolated from P. vulgaris, which in the studied region established effective symbiosis with the common endosymbiont of L. culinaris, instead to with its common endosymbiont, the symbiovar phaseoli. These results are particularly interesting for biogeography studies, because they showed that, due its high promiscuity degree, P. vulgaris is able to establish symbiosis with local symbiovars well established in the soil after centuries of cultivation with other legumes.

Fast methods of fungal and bacterial identification. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, chromogenic media. / Métodos rápidos de identificación de bacterias y hongos. Espectrometría de masas MALDI-TOF, medios cromogénicos.

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry is now a routine resource in Clinical Microbiology, because of its speed and reliability in the identification of microorganisms. Its performance in the identification of bacteria and yeasts is perfectly contrasted. The identification of mycobacteria and moulds is more complex, due to the heterogeneity of spectra within each species. The methodology is somewhat more complex, and expanding the size of species libraries, and the number of spectra of each species, will be crucial to achieve greater efficiency. Direct identification from blood cultures has been implemented, since its contribution to the management of severe patients is evident, but its application to other samples is more complex. Chromogenic media have also contributed to the rapid diagnosis in both bacteria and yeast, since they accelerate the diagnosis, facilitate the detection of mixed cultures and allow rapid diagnosis of resistant species.

The status of the genus Seliberia Aristovskaya and Parinkina 1963 (Approved Lists 1980) and the species Seliberia stellate Aristovskaya and Parinkina 1963 (Approved Lists 1980). Request for an Opinion.

The species Seliberia stellata was described in 1963 and the name validly published in 1980. Its type strain, INMI N-9(T), was deposited in the VKM collection by one of the authors reporting its 5S rRNA gene sequence. Based on the analysis of this sequence, the currently distributed strains VKM B-1340 and CECT 7960 are not the original type strain of Seliberia stellata. A 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of strain CECT 7960 had previously shown that this strain belongs to the species Bradyrhizobium betae, and this result was confirmed in the present paper by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) MS analysis for both CECT 7960 and VKM B-1340. Therefore, we propose that the Judicial Commission consider the following. (1) That the organism currently deposited as VKM B-1340 and CECT 7960 be recognized as a member of the species Bradyrhizobium betae. (2) That the organism deposited as VKM B-1340 and CECT 7960 does not represent the type strain of the species Seliberia stellata. (3) To place the species name Seliberia stellataAristovskaya and Parinkina 1963 (Approved Lists 1980) on the list of rejected names if a suitable replacement strain, or a neotype, cannot be found within two years of publication of this Request (Rule 18c). (4) To place the genus name SeliberiaAristovskaya and Parinkina 1963 (Approved Lists 1980) on the list of rejected names (Recommendation 20d) if a suitable replacement type strain or a neotype for the type species of the genus SeliberiaAristovskaya and Parinkina 1963 (Approved Lists 1980) is not identified as indicated in point (3).

Sub-nephrotoxic cisplatin sensitizes rats to acute renal failure and increases urinary excretion of fumarylacetoacetase.

Nephrotoxicity limits the therapeutic efficacy of the antineoplastic drug cisplatin. Due to dosage adjustment and appropriate monitoring, most therapeutic courses with cisplatin produce no or minimal kidney damage. However, we studied whether even sub-nephrotoxic dosage of cisplatin poses a potential risk for the kidneys by predisposing to acute kidney injury (AKI), specifically by lowering the toxicity threshold for a second nephrotoxin. With this purpose rats were treated with a single sub-nephrotoxic dosage of cisplatin (3mg/kg, i.p.) and after two days, with a sub-nephrotoxic regime of gentamicin (50mg/kg/day, during 6 days, i.p.). Control groups received only one of the drugs or the vehicle. Renal function and renal histology were monitored throughout the experiment. Cisplatin treatment did not cause any relevant functional or histological alterations in the kidneys. Rats treated with cisplatin and gentamicin, but not those under single treatments, developed an overt renal failure characterized by both renal dysfunction and massive tubular necrosis. In addition, the urinary excretion of fumarylacetoacetase was increased in cisplatin-treated animals at subtoxic doses, which might be exploited as a cisplatin-induced predisposition marker. In fact, the urinary level of fumarylacetoacetase prior to the second nephrotoxin correlated with the level of AKI triggered by gentamicin in predisposed animals.

Atypical yeasts identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae by MALDI-TOF MS and gene sequencing are the main responsible of fermentation of chicha, a traditional beverage from Peru.

Chicha is a drink prepared in several Andean countries from Inca's times by maize fermentation. Currently this fermentation is carried out in familiar artesanal "chicherías" that make one of the most known types of chicha, the "chicha de jora". In this study we isolate and identify the yeasts mainly responsible of the fermentation process in this type of chicha in 10 traditional "chicherías" in Cusco region in Peru. We applied by first time MALDI-TOF MS analysis for the identification of yeast of non-clinic origin and the results showed that all of yeast strains isolated belong to the species Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These results agree with those obtained after the analysis of the D1/D2 and 5.8S-ITS regions. However the chicha strains have a phenotypic profile that differed in more than 40% as compared to that of current S. cerevisiae strains. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report concerning the yeasts involved in chicha fermentation.