Genetic Structure of Liriomyza trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae) Associated With Host Plants From Southeastern Mexico.

Host-associated differentiation (HAD) has played a major role in insect diversification at both macroevolutionary and microevolutionary scales. This evolutionary process has been reported in insects associated with wild and domesticated plant species. In particular, domesticated species harbor large genetic and phenotypic diversity associated with traits of human interest, including variation in nutrition, phenology, fruit, and leaf shape. This diversity may alter selection regimes affecting insect evolution and host specialization. The genus Liriomyza includes highly polyphagous species that are characterized for living and feeding inside plant leaves. Ecological and genetic data suggest the presence of cryptic species within this genus. Moreover, there is evidence of HAD in a group of populations of Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) associated with Capsicum annum L. (Solanaceae). In this work, we explored HAD in L. trifolii populations from southeastern Mexico, and inquire into differentiation specific to peppers based on cytochrome oxidase I. We also evaluated the relationship between the genetic structure of leafminers and the different types of C. annuum. Our main results did not support previous findings of specialization of L. trifolli on C. annuum. Nevertheless, we found a divergent group of haplotypes associated to Allium cepa (Aspargales: Amaryllidaceae) in sympatric condition to Physalis philadelphica Lam. (Solanales: Solanaceae) and C. annum, suggesting the presence of HAD, as well as significant genetic differentiation of L. trifolii associated to peppers from Oaxaca and Yucatán.

Protein nanoparticles are nontoxic, tuneable cell stressors.

AIM: Nanoparticle-cell interactions can promote cell toxicity and stimulate particular behavioral patterns, but cell responses to protein nanomaterials have been poorly studied. RESULTS: By repositioning oligomerization domains in a simple, modular self-assembling protein platform, we have generated closely related but distinguishable homomeric nanoparticles. Composed by building blocks with modular domains arranged in different order, they share amino acid composition. These materials, once exposed to cultured cells, are differentially internalized in absence of toxicity and trigger distinctive cell adaptive responses, monitored by the emission of tubular filopodia and enhanced drug sensitivity. CONCLUSION: The capability to rapidly modulate such cell responses by conventional protein engineering reveals protein nanoparticles as tuneable, versatile and potent cell stressors for cell-targeted conditioning.

Comparative analysis of lentiviral vectors and modular protein nanovectors for traumatic brain injury gene therapy.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains as one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide and there are no effective treatments currently available. Gene therapy applications have emerged as important alternatives for the treatment of diverse nervous system injuries. New strategies are evolving with the notion that each particular pathological condition may require a specific vector. Moreover, the lack of detailed comparative studies between different vectors under similar conditions hampers the selection of an ideal vector for a given pathological condition. The potential use of lentiviral vectors versus several modular protein-based nanovectors was compared using a controlled cortical impact model of TBI under the same gene therapy conditions. We show that variables such as protein/DNA ratio, incubation volume, and presence of serum or chloroquine in the transfection medium impact on both nanovector formation and transfection efficiency in vitro. While lentiviral vectors showed GFP protein 1 day after TBI and increased expression at 14 days, nanovectors showed stable and lower GFP transgene expression from 1 to 14 days. No toxicity after TBI by any of the vectors was observed as determined by resulting levels of IL-1ß or using neurological sticky tape test. In fact, both vector types induced functional improvement per se.

Honor a quien hnnor merece: dr. enrique nuñez de villavicencio y palomino / Dr. Enrique Nuñez de Villavicencio y Palomino a paradigm to be follow

El doctor Enrique Núñez de Villavicencio y Palomino (1872-1916) fue uno de los más ilustres profesionales en el campo de la Medicina y Cirugía, Tuvo un papel importante no solo en el desarrollo de las nuevas técnicas quirúrgicas, sino también como jefe de la Sanidad y Beneficencia de Cuba, tanto en la actividad civil como en la militar. El Dr. Núñez escribió muchos artículos relacionados con la Medicina, la Cirugía gineco-obstetra y modernizó el viejo Hospital Núm. 1 en el actual Calixto García, Esta revisión bibliográfica tiene como objetivo divulgar su vida y obra para que sirva como paradigma a los estudiantes de Medicina.

Dr. Enrique Nuñez de Villavicencio y Palomino (1872-1916) was one of our the most outstanding professionals in the fields of medicine and surgery. He played an important role not only in the development of new surgical techniques, but also as a Secretary of Health care and Welfare of Cuba both in civil and military activities. Dr. Nuñez wrote many scientific articles related to Obstetrics, Gynecology and Surgery and he had also the great idea of turning the old and former Number One Hospital of Havana into the present Calixto Garcia Hospital . This bibliographic review has the purpose of divulging Enrique's life and work to as a paradigm to be follow by medicine students.