Short-term tuning of microalgal composition by exposition to different irradiance and small doses of sulfide.

Suitability of microalgae valorization mainly depends on its biochemical composition. Overall, among all microalgal derivatives, pigments currently stand out as the major added-value component. While it is well recognized that microalgal growth conditions strongly affect biomass composition, final tuning of already grown microalgae has been scarcely studied. Herein, pigment crude extract and debris biomass composition of an already grown microalgal consortium was evaluated after a short-term exposure (90 min) to different levels of irradiance (15, 50, 120 µmol m-2 s-1) and sulfide concentrations (0, 3.2, 16 mg L-1). Although lipid, protein, and carbohydrate contents of debris biomass were not decisively modified by the short-term exposures, pigments content of the crude extracts were strongly modified after 90-min exposure at given sulfide and irradiance conditions. Particularly, a higher content of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total carotenoids was estimated at an optimal sulfide concentration of 5 mg L-1, and the higher irradiance of 120 µmol m-2 s-1. Contrarily, the average irradiation level of 50 µmol m-2 s-1 and the absence of sulfide stimulated the production of phycoerythrin and phycocyanin which could be increased by 65 and 50%, respectively. Thus, a final qualitative and quantitative tuning of pigment content is plainly achievable on grown microalgal biomass, in a reduced exposure time, at given irradiance or sulfide conditions.

Unraveling the distinctive venomous features of the saturniid Hylesia sp.: An integrative approach of a public health concern in Argentina.

The saturniid genus Hylesia is well known for the cutaneous lepidopterism induced by airborne setae on contact with the skin. Although several cases of such dermatitis have been reported in Argentina, no information about their venoms and toxicological implications on human health is available yet. Thus, we conducted a morphological analysis of the setae/spines and a toxinological characterization (through biological assays and proteomic techniques) of the bristle extract from caterpillars and moths of Hylesia sp. from Misiones, Argentina. By scanning electron microscopy, we revealed the various and distinctive types of urticating structures: harpoon-shaped or spiny setae in caterpillars, and setae with barb-like structures in female moths. Their venom electrophoretic profiles were substantially different, presenting proteins related to toxicity, such as serpins and serine peptidases. The female moth venom exhibited higher caseinolytic activity than the caterpillar venom, and coincidentally only the former noticeably hydrolyzed fibrinogen and gelatin. In addition, the female venom displayed a dose-dependent procoagulant effect. The injection of this venom into mouse skin led to the rapid detection of an increased number of intact and degranulated mast cells in the dermis; a few areas of focal subcutaneous hemorrhage were also observed after 5 h of injection. Altogether, this study provides relevant information about the pathophysiological mechanisms whereby Hylesia sp. from northeastern Argentina can induce toxicity on human beings, and paves the way for treatment strategies of accidents caused by this saturniid lepidopteran.

Bat Flies of the Family Streblidae (Diptera: Hippoboscoidea) Host Relatives of Medically and Agriculturally Important "Bat-Associated" Viruses.

Bat flies (Hippoboscoidea: Nycteribiidae and Streblidae) are obligate hematophagous ectoparasites of bats. We collected streblid bat flies from the New World (México) and the Old World (Uganda), and used metagenomics to identify their viruses. In México, we found méjal virus (Rhabdoviridae; Vesiculovirus), Amate virus (Reoviridae: Orbivirus), and two unclassified viruses of invertebrates. Méjal virus is related to emerging zoonotic encephalitis viruses and to the agriculturally important vesicular stomatitis viruses (VSV). Amate virus and its sister taxon from a bat are most closely related to mosquito- and tick-borne orbiviruses, suggesting a previously unrecognized orbivirus transmission cycle involving bats and bat flies. In Uganda, we found mamucuso virus (Peribunyaviridae: Orthobunyavirus) and two unclassified viruses (a rhabdovirus and an invertebrate virus). Mamucuso virus is related to encephalitic viruses of mammals and to viruses from nycteribiid bat flies and louse flies, suggesting a previously unrecognized orthobunyavirus transmission cycle involving hippoboscoid insects. Bat fly virus transmission may be neither strictly vector-borne nor strictly vertical, with opportunistic feeding by bat flies occasionally leading to zoonotic transmission. Many "bat-associated" viruses, which are ecologically and epidemiologically associated with bats but rarely or never found in bats themselves, may actually be viruses of bat flies or other bat ectoparasites.

Molecular screening of XY SRY-negative sex reversal cases in horses revealed anomalies in amelogenin testing.

Male-to-female sex reversal in horses is a developmental disorder in which phenotypic females have a male genetic constitution. Male-to-female sex reversal is the second most common genetic sex abnormality, after X chromosome monosomy. All male-to-female sex reversal cases studied to date have been found to be infertile. Therefore, a screening test is particularly useful in laboratories doing DNA genotyping in horses. Our laboratory has tested > 209,000 horses for parentage using a panel of microsatellite markers and the sex marker gene amelogenin (AMEL). Suspect XY sex reversal cases are reported females with a male profile by AMEL testing. After routine genotyping, 49 cases were detected and further tested using the sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene, confirming the XY SRY-negative genotype of suspect sex reversal cases. When some inconsistencies arose in the initial result, a molecular panel of X- and Y-linked markers was analyzed for these samples. Of the 49 cases, 33 were confirmed as XY SRY-negative. The remaining 16 cases were identified as false-positives as a result of anomalies of AMEL testing in horses.

Understanding toxicological implications of accidents with caterpillars Megalopyge lanata and Podalia orsilochus (Lepidoptera: Megalopygidae).

Megalopygids Megalopyge lanata and Podalia orsilochus are common causative agents of accidents in agricultural workers. These accidents are provoked by dermal contact at their larval stage and are characterized by cutaneous reactions, such as burning pain, edema and erythema, typically mild and self-limited. There is very little information about their venoms and their toxicological implications on human health. Thus, we employed proteomic techniques and biological assays to characterize venoms (bristle extracts) from caterpillars of both species collected from Misiones, Argentina. The electrophoretic profiles of both venoms were substantially different, and they presented proteins related to toxicity, such as serinepeptidases, serpins and lectins. P. orsilochus venom exhibited higher caseinolytic activity than M. lanata venom, agreeing with the fact that only P. orsilochus venom hydrolyzed human fibrin(ogen). In addition, the latter shortened the clotting time triggered by calcium. While the venom of M. lanata induced a mild inflammatory lesion in mouse skin, P. orsilochus venom caused prominent necrosis, inflammatory infiltration and hemorrhage at the site of venom injection. On the other hand, P. orsilochus venom was better recognized by Lonomia obliqua antivenom, although many of its proteins could not be cross-reacted, what may explain the difference in the clinical manifestations between accidents by Podalia and those by Lonomia. Altogether, this study provides relevant information about the pathophysiological mechanisms whereby both caterpillars can induce toxicity on human beings, and paves the way for novel discovery of naturally occurring bioactive compounds.

Exposure to cuticular bacteria can alter host behavior in a funnel-weaving spider.

Contact with environmental microbes are arguably the most common species interaction in which any animal participates. Studies have noted diverse relationships between hosts and resident microbes, which can have strong consequences for host development, physiology, and behavior. Many of these studies focus specifically on pathogens or beneficial microbes, while the benign microbes, of which the majority of bacteria could be described, are often ignored. Here, we explore the nature of the relationships between the grass spider Agelenopsis pennsylvanica and bacteria collected from their cuticles in situ. First, using culture-based methods, we identified a portion of the cuticular bacterial communities that are naturally associated with these spiders. Then, we topically exposed spiders to a subset of these bacterial monocultures to estimate how bacterial exposure may alter 3 host behavioral traits: boldness, aggressiveness, and activity level. We conducted these behavioral assays 3 times before and 3 times after topical application, and compared the changes observed in each trait with spiders that were exposed to a sterile control treatment. We identified 9 species of bacteria from the cuticles of 36 spiders and exposed groups of 20 spiders to 1 of 4 species of cuticular bacteria. We found that exposure to Dermacoccus nishinomiyaensis and Staphylococcus saprophyticus was associated with a 10-fold decrease in the foraging aggressiveness of spiders toward prey in their web. Since bacterial exposure did not have survival consequences for hosts, these data suggest that interactions with cuticular bacteria, even non-pathogenic bacteria, could alter host behavior.

Erratum: Exposure to cuticular bacteria can alter host behavior in a funnel-weaving spider.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1093/cz/zox064.]

A multi-technique analytical approach to sourcing Scandinavian flint: Provenance of ballast flint from the shipwreck "Leirvigen 1", Norway.

Although Scandinavian flint is one of the most important materials used for prehistoric stone tool production in Northern and Central Europe, a conclusive method for securely differentiating between flint sources, geologically bound to northern European chalk formations, has never been achieved. The main problems with traditional approaches concern the oftentimes high similarities of SiO2 raw materials (i.e. chert and flint) on different scales due to similar genetic conditions and higher intra- than inter-source variation. Conventional chert and flint provenance studies chiefly concentrate on visual, petrographic or geochemical investigations. Hence, attempts to generate characteristic fingerprints of particular chert raw materials were in most cases unsatisfying. Here we show that the Multi Layered Chert Sourcing Approach (MLA) achieves a clear differentiation between primary sources of Scandinavian flint. The MLA combines visual comparative studies, stereo-microscopic analyses of microfossil inclusions, geochemical trace element analyses applying LA-ICP-MS (Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) and statistical analyses through CODA (Compositional Data Analysis). For archaeologists, provenance studies are the gateway to advance interpretations of economic behavior expressed in resource management strategies entailing the procurement, use and distribution of lithic raw materials. We demonstrate the relevance of our results for archaeological materials in a case study in which we were able to differentiate between Scandinavian flint sources and establish the provenance of historic ballast flint from a shipwreck found near Kristiansand close to the shore of southern Norway from a beach source in Northern Jutland, the Vigsø Bay.

New records of ectoparasitic Acari (Arachnida) and Streblidae (Diptera) from bats in Jalisco, Mexico.

Ectoparasites of bats in the Neotropics are diverse and play numerous ecological roles as vectors of microbial pathogens and endoparasites and as food sources for other cave fauna living both on their hosts and in bat roosts. The ectoparasites of bats in Jalisco State of western Mexico have not been as well described as those of other states with recent checklists that have focused primarily on the Yucatan Peninsula. We captured bats from 2011-2015 on the south coast and Sierra de Amula, Jalisco using mist nets, and we removed ectoparasites by hand. We identified 24 species of streblid bat flies and six ectoparasitic mites from bats caught in mist nets. There were an additional eight possibly undescribed species of Streblidae. Our collections extend the known range of species into Jalisco.

Vacuna contra el virus del papiloma humano en adolescentes: Análisis mediante grupos focales / Human papilloma virus vaccination in teenage girls: a focus group evaluation

Objetivo La obtención de niveles de cobertura bajos frente a la vacunación contra el virus del papiloma humano, ha planteado la necesidad de analizar las causas que están afectando a la toma de decisiones sobre la administración de la vacuna, a partir de las manifestaciones de aquellas directamente implicadas, las adolescentes. Métodos Por tanto, se ha planteado la realización de una evaluación mediante la utilización de la metodología de grupos focales. Se han realizado un grupo piloto y cuatro grupos focales en el Instituto Tirant lo Blanc de Gandía con adolescentes pertenecientes a distintas poblaciones del departamento, incluyendo en los mismos adolescentes vacunadas, no vacunadas y con vacunación incorrecta. Resultados Las su experiencia, conocimientos y opiniones respecto a la vacunación frente al VPH que pueden resumirse en la existencia de ideas erróneas y una carencia importante de conocimientos. Conclusión Es necesario un cambio de dirección basado en el desarrollo de campañas educativas, que sirvan para poder obrar con responsabilidad y poder al mismo tiempo tomar decisiones adecuadas.

Objective The low immunization coverage levels for the human papilloma virus vaccine has led to a need to analyze the causes that affect the decision to vaccinate, as expressed by those directly involved in making this decision -teenage girls. Methodology Therefore, we proposed an assessment with a focus group methodology. An evaluation with a pilot group and four focal groups was carried out in Tirant lo Blanc of Gandia secondary school. The girls that made up the groups belonged to different populations within the health department, including vaccinated, non-vaccinated, and incorrectly vaccinated teenage girls. Results The girls talked about their experiences, knowledge and opinions with respect to HPV vaccination, which could be summarized as showing a large knowledge gap and the existence of erroneous ideas. Conclusion A change in direction, involving the development of educational campaigns that empowers girls and their families to make suitable decisions, is necessary.

Preparation of the sodium salt of high acyl gellan and characterization of its structure, thermal and rheological behaviors.

This work presents a method to obtain the sodium salt of high acyl gellan (NaHAG) from a commercial preparation, LT-100, by ionic exchange and freeze drying without involving alcohol precipitation to recover the modified macromolecule. NaHAG was characterized by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and proton nuclear magnetic resonance. In addition, gel viscoelasticity, sol-gel transition temperatures from rheological temperature sweeps and differential scanning calorimetry, of both preparations was examined. Up to 87% of the initial weight of LT-100 was recovered as NaHAG. The sodium ion content in NaHAG was 3.2 times greater than in LT-100 and more than 90% of potassium, calcium and magnesium ions present in the original sample were removed. Transition temperatures of LT-100 were significantly higher than those of NaHAG. However, LT-100 gels were slightly stronger and elastic than NaHAG gels. Characterization data from different analyses suggest that the treatment method makes possible to obtain NaHAG with only slight structure modification with respect to LT-100, and could be advantageously utilized to obtain other monovalent and divalent salt forms of high acyl gellan for use in fundamental studies on its properties in aqueous environment.

[Human papilloma virus vaccination in teenage girls: a focus group evaluation]. / Vacuna contra el virus del papiloma humano en adolescentes: Análisis mediante grupos focales.

OBJECTIVE: The low immunization coverage levels for the human papilloma virus vaccine has led to a need to analyze the causes that affect the decision to vaccinate, as expressed by those directly involved in making this decision -teenage girls. METHODOLOGY: Therefore, we proposed an assessment with a focus group methodology. An evaluation with a pilot group and four focal groups was carried out in Tirant lo Blanc of Gandia secondary school. The girls that made up the groups belonged to different populations within the health department, including vaccinated, non-vaccinated, and incorrectly vaccinated teenage girls. RESULTS: The girls talked about their experiences, knowledge and opinions with respect to HPV vaccination, which could be summarized as showing a large knowledge gap and the existence of erroneous ideas. CONCLUSION: A change in direction, involving the development of educational campaigns that empowers girls and their families to make suitable decisions, is necessary.

Antimicrobial activity and hydrophobicity of edible whey protein isolate films formulated with nisin and/or glucose oxidase.

The use of edible antimicrobial films has been reported as a means to improve food shelf life through gradual releasing of antimicrobial compounds on the food surface. This work reports the study on the incorporation of 2 antimicrobial agents, nisin (N), and/or glucose oxidase (GO), into the matrix of Whey protein isolate (WPI) films at pH 5.5 and 8.5. The antimicrobial activity of the edible films was evaluated against Listeria innocua (ATCC 33090), Brochothrix thermosphacta (NCIB10018), Escherichia coli (JMP101), and Enterococcus faecalis (MXVK22). In addition, the antimicrobial activity was related to the hydrophobicity and water solubility of the WPI films. The greatest antibacterial activity was observed in WPI films containing only GO. The combined addition of N and GO resulted in films with lower antimicrobial activity than films with N or GO alone. In most cases, a pH effect was observed as greater antimicrobial response at pH 5.5 as well as higher film matrix hydrophobicity. WPI films supplemented with GO can be used in coating systems suitable for food preservation.

Costs and benefits of influenza vaccination and work productivity in a Colombian company from the employer's perspective.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of an employee influenza vaccination campaign, measured in terms of health and economic benefits. METHODS: Colombian bank employees volunteered to take part in this prospective observational study involving two groups: vaccinated and nonvaccinated. Socioeconomic and health status information, including influenza-like symptoms, sick leave, and postvaccination adverse events, were collected via questionnaires. Cost-benefit analyses were performed to determine whether the employer would save money overall by paying for the vaccination program. RESULTS: Between October 2000 and May 2001, 424 vaccinated subjects and 335 nonvaccinated subjects volunteered to join the study. Cumulative incidence of influenza-like illness (ILI) was lower among vaccinated (14.6%) than nonvaccinated subjects (39.4%). Fever was the most common ILI symptom (93% of all reported ILI). Absence rates because of ILI were similar in the two groups (2.59%-2.69%). Assuming that employees with ILI who continue to work have reduced effectiveness (30%-70% of normal) the employer can save 6.4 US dollars to 25.8 US dollars per vaccinated employee based on labor costs alone. This saving increases to 89.3 US dollars to 237.8 US dollars when operating income is also considered. Sensitivity analyses indicate that the vaccination program will be cost saving for vaccination coverage above 20% and ILI rates above 10%. CONCLUSIONS: Among the studied volunteers, ILI has significant impact on work productivity in terms of indirect costs. Implementing an influenza vaccination program would reduce the burden of ILI and save substantial amounts of money for the company.