Immunostimulant effects of diet supplementation with yellow (Pouteria campechiana), white (Casimiroa edulis), and black (Diospyros digyna) sapote nanocapsules on laying hens: in vitro and in vivo study.

Poultry is commonly infected by different bacteria and parasites in the environment, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality, but immunostimulants have been enhancing non-specific defense mechanisms conferring laying hens' protection. For this purpose, the pulp of yellow (Pouteria campechiana), white (Casimiroa edulis), and black (Diospyros digyna) sapotes were nanoencapsulated (YWB-SN) and evaluated in laying hens' peripheral blood leukocytes to test their addition to the experimental diets at a concentration of 0.5% (5g/kg of dry food) for 1 month (with two samples at days 15 and 30). The YWB-SN were safe when exposed to peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs). The in vitro experiment showed that these nanocapsules enhanced reactive oxygen species production, and B-SN stimulated phagocytosis activity. Concerning the proinflammatory cytokine (TNF-α) transcription, this gene was upregulated after W-SN stimulation, while B-SN upregulated the IgG gene expression significantly. IgM was upregulated with any YBW-SN in PBLs after 24 h of stimulation. The in vivo study showed a notable B-SN immunostimulation in serum and an upregulation of TNF-α, IgM, and IgG mRNA transcription. Therefore, this study provides a new result of the yellow, white, and black sapote nanocapsules as a functional food for the poultry industry, highlighting the black sapote Diospyros digyna immunostimulant effect.

Comportamiento de la morbimortalidad por virus de inmunodeficiencia humana/sida en Nuevitas, Camagüey, 1993-2021

Fundamento la infección por virus de inmunodeficiencia humana/sida es considerada la más temible de las infecciones de transmisión sexual. Los estudios relacionados con el tema permiten el acercamiento a los diferentes contextos y poblaciones afectadas por esta enfermedad. Objetivo determinar el comportamiento de la morbimortalidad relacionada con el virus de inmunodeficiencia humana/sida. Métodos se realizó un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo, en el municipio de Nuevitas, en el periodo 1993-2021, que incluyó a 92 pacientes diagnosticados con el virus de inmunodeficiencia humana/sida. Los datos fueron tomados del registro de casos de la Unidad Municipal de Higiene y Epidemiología, y de las historias epidemiológicas individuales. Las variables analizadas: año de diagnóstico, grupos de edades, sexo, estado civil, orientación sexual, forma de detección de la enfermedad y evolución. Resultados se observó una tendencia ascendente de casos hasta diciembre de 2021. El grupo etario más numeroso resultó el de 20-24 años, y predominó el sexo masculino. Al momento del diagnóstico de la enfermedad prevaleció el estado civil de soltero, así como la orientación sexual homosexual. Conclusiones de forma general, hubo una tendencia al ascenso de pacientes infectados, fundamentalmente de jóvenes solteros del sexo masculino, homosexuales; además, prevalecieron los seropositivos.

Foundation infection by human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS is considered the most fearsome of sexually transmitted infections. The studies related to the subject allow the approach to the different contexts and populations affected by this disease. Objective to determine the behavior of morbidity and mortality related to the human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS. Methods a retrospective descriptive study was carried out in the Nuevitas municipality, from 1993 to 2021, which included 92 patients diagnosed with the human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS. The data were taken from the case registry of the Municipal Hygiene and Epidemiology Unit, and from individual epidemiological histories. The analyzed variables: year of diagnosis, age groups, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, way of detecting the disease and evolution. Results an upward trend of cases was observed until December 2021. The most numerous age group was 20-24 years old, and the male sex predominated. At the disease time of diagnosis, the marital status of single prevailed, as well as the homosexual sexual orientation. Conclusions in general, there was a tendency to increase the number of infected patients, mainly young single men, homosexuals; in addition, seropositives prevailed.

Determining the Photoelectrical Behavior and Photocatalytic Activity of an h-YMnO3 New Type of Obelisk-like Perovskite in the Degradation of Malachite Green Dye.

YMnO3 is a P-type semiconductor with a perovskite-type structure (ABO3). It presents two crystalline systems: rhombohedral and hexagonal, the latter being the most stable and studied. In the hexagonal system, Mn3+ ions are coordinated by five oxygen ions forming a trigonal bipyramid, and the Y3+ ions are coordinated by five oxygen ions. This arrangement favors its ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties, which have been widely studied since 1963. However, applications based on their optical properties have yet to be explored. This work evaluates the photoelectric response and the photocatalytic activity of yttrium manganite in visible spectrum wavelengths. To conduct this, a rod-obelisk-shaped yttrium manganite with a reduced indirect bandgap value of 1.43 eV in its hexagonal phase was synthesized through the precipitation method. The synthesized yttrium manganite was elucidated by solid-state techniques, such as DRX, XPS, and UV-vis. It was non-toxic as shown by the 100% leukocyte viability of mice BALB/c.

A chromosome-level genome assembly enables the identification of the follicule stimulating hormone receptor as the master sex-determining gene in the flatfish Solea senegalensis.

Sex determination (SD) shows huge variation among fish and a high evolutionary rate, as illustrated by the Pleuronectiformes (flatfishes). This order is characterized by its adaptation to demersal life, compact genomes and diversity of SD mechanisms. Here, we assembled the Solea senegalensis genome, a flatfish of great commercial value, into 82 contigs (614 Mb) combining long- and short-read sequencing, which were next scaffolded using a highly dense genetic map (28,838 markers, 21 linkage groups), representing 98.9% of the assembly. Further, we established the correspondence between the assembly and the 21 chromosomes by using BAC-FISH. Whole genome resequencing of six males and six females enabled the identification of 41 single nucleotide polymorphism variants in the follicle stimulating hormone receptor (fshr) consistent with an XX/XY SD system. The observed sex association was validated in a broader independent sample, providing a novel molecular sexing tool. The fshr gene displayed differential expression between male and female gonads from 86 days post-fertilization, when the gonad is still an undifferentiated primordium, concomitant with the activation of amh and cyp19a1a, testis and ovary marker genes, respectively, in males and females. The Y-linked fshr allele, which included 24 nonsynonymous variants and showed a highly divergent 3D protein structure, was overexpressed in males compared to the X-linked allele at all stages of gonadal differentiation. We hypothesize a mechanism hampering the action of the follicle stimulating hormone driving the undifferentiated gonad toward testis.

Genomic Characterization of hox Genes in Senegalese Sole (Solea senegalensis, Kaup 1858): Clues to Evolutionary Path in Pleuronectiformes.

The Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis, Kaup 1858), a marine flatfish, belongs to the Pleuronectiformes order. It is a commercially important species for fisheries and aquaculture. However, in aquaculture, several production bottlenecks have still to be resolved, including skeletal deformities and high mortality during the larval and juvenile phase. The study aims to characterize the hox gene clusters in S. senegalensis to understand better the developmental and metamorphosis process in this species. Using a BAC library, the clones that contain hox genes were isolated, sequenced by NGS and used as BAC-FISH probes. Subsequently the hox clusters were studied by sequence analysis, comparative genomics, and cytogenetic and phylogenetic analysis. Cytogenetic analysis demonstrated the localization of four BAC clones on chromosome pairs 4, 12, 13, and 16 of the Senegalese sole cytogenomic map. Comparative and phylogenetic analysis showed a highly conserved organization in each cluster and different phylogenetic clustering in each hox cluster. Analysis of structural and repetitive sequences revealed accumulations of polymorphisms mediated by repetitive elements in the hoxba cluster, mainly retroelements. Therefore, a possible loss of the hoxb7a gene can be established in the Pleuronectiformes lineage. This work allows the organization and regulation of hox clusters to be understood, and is a good base for further studies of expression patterns.

Nanohybrid of Thymol and 2D Simonkolleite Enhances Inhibition of Bacterial Growth, Biofilm Formation, and Free Radicals.

Due to the current concerns against opportunistic pathogens and the challenge of antimicrobial resistance worldwide, alternatives to control pathogen growth are required. In this sense, this work offers a new nanohybrid composed of zinc-layered hydroxide salt (Simonkolleite) and thymol for preventing bacterial growth. Materials were characterized with XRD diffraction, FTIR and UV-Vis spectra, SEM microscopy, and dynamic light scattering. It was confirmed that the Simonkolleite structure was obtained, and thymol was adsorbed on the hydroxide in a web-like manner, with a concentration of 0.863 mg thymol/mg of ZnLHS. Absorption kinetics was described with non-linear models, and a pseudo-second-order equation was the best fit. The antibacterial test was conducted against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Staphylococcus aureus strains, producing inhibition halos of 21 and 24 mm, respectively, with a 10 mg/mL solution of thymol-ZnLHS. Moreover, biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa inhibition was tested, with over 90% inhibition. Nanohybrids exhibited antioxidant activity with ABTS and DPPH evaluations, confirming the presence of the biomolecule in the inorganic matrix. These results can be used to develop a thymol protection vehicle for applications in food, pharmaceutics, odontology, or biomedical industries.

Integration of Maps Enables a Cytogenomics Analysis of the Complete Karyotype in Solea senegalensis.

The Pleuronectiformes order, which includes several commercially-important species, has undergone extensive chromosome evolution. One of these species is Solea senegalensis, a flatfish with 2n = 42 chromosomes. In this study, a cytogenomics approach and integration with previous maps was applied to characterize the karyotype of the species. Synteny analysis of S. senegalensis was carried out using two flatfish as a reference: Cynoglossus semilaevis and Scophthalmus maximus. Most S. senegalensis chromosomes (or chromosome arms for metacentrics and submetacentrics) showed a one-to-one macrosyntenic pattern with the other two species. In addition, we studied how repetitive sequences could have played a role in the evolution of S. senegalensis bi-armed (3, and 5-9) and acrocentric (11, 12 and 16) chromosomes, which showed the highest rearrangements compared with the reference species. A higher abundance of TEs (Transposable Elements) and other repeated elements was observed adjacent to telomeric regions on chromosomes 3, 7, 9 and 16. However, on chromosome 11, a greater abundance of DNA transposons was detected in interstitial BACs. This chromosome is syntenic with several chromosomes of the other two flatfish species, suggesting rearrangements during its evolution. A similar situation was also found on chromosome 16 (for microsatellites and low complexity sequences), but not for TEs (retroelements and DNA transposons). These differences in the distribution and abundance of repetitive elements in chromosomes that have undergone remodeling processes during the course of evolution also suggest a possible role for simple repeat sequences in rearranged regions.

Improved extraction of carrageenan from red seaweed (Chondracantus canaliculatus) using ultrasound-assisted methods and evaluation of the yield, physicochemical properties and functional groups.

Red seaweed Chondracanthus canaliculatus, an underexploited algae species, was used as a potential source for the obtaining of carrageenan. Seaweed was treated under alkaline conditions using ultrasound alone or combined with conventional procedures, to improve the yield extraction. Color, syneresis behavior, water retention capacity, and functional groups of the gelling and non-gelling fractions of carrageenan were determined; these properties were compared with those of commercial carrageenans named A and B. Ultrasound alone or with heat significantly (p < 0.05) increased the yield extraction up to 41-45% and influenced color parameters, in comparison with conventional treatments. Functional groups kappa and iota, and alginates, were confirmed in both carrageenan fractions. Syneresis behavior was well fitted to a third-degree polynomial equation within days 1 to 6, after which, it reached a plateau. While, the use of ultrasound at room temperature gave carrageenan properties more similar to those of the commercial carrageenan type A.

Asociación entre el tipo de papila duodenal mayor y canulación biliar difícil en centro terciario privado / Association between the type of major duodenal papilla and difficult biliary cannulation in a private tertiary center

RESUMEN Introducción : La canulación difícil en casos de colangiopancreatografía retrógrada endoscópica (CPRE) podría asociarse a diversos factores incluyendo el tipo de papila mayor, sin embargo, existen datos limitados con respecto a esta posible asociación. Objetivos : Determinar la asociación entre el tipo de papila y la canulación biliar difícil. Materiales y métodos : Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo transversal analítico en pacientes mayores de 18 años en quienes se realizó CPRE en papila virgen, de julio 2019 a abril 2021, en una institución privada. Se excluyeron las canulaciones frustras. La papila fue clasificada en base a la clasificación de Haraldsson. Se evaluó la asociación cruda y ajustada a posibles confusores entre el tipo de papila y canulación difícil. Se calcularon los riesgos relativo (RR) e intervalos de confianza al 95%. Resultados : Se incluyeron 188 pacientes. La edad media fue 55 años, el 66% de sexo femenino. La indicación más frecuente fue coledocolitiasis con 88,5%. El tipo de papila duodenal mayor más frecuente fue el tipo 1 (32%), seguido de tipo 3 (27%), tipo 2 (25%) y tipo 4 (16%). Las papilas tipo 2, 3, 4 presentaron una relación significativa con canulación difícil comparadas con la tipo 1 (p<0,001, p<0,001 y p=0,008 respectivamente). La indicación diferente a coledocolitiasis también mostró una relación significativa con canulación difícil (p<0,001). En el análisis ajustado, El RR para canulación difícil en comparación con la papila tipo 1 fue: de 2,51 (IC 95% 1,23-5,94) para la papila tipo 2, 3,72 (IC 95% 1,79-7,71) para la papila tipo 3 y 3,41 (IC 95% 1,54-7,71) para la tipo 4. La indicación distinta a la coledocolitiasis también se asoció a un mayor riesgo de canulación difícil con un RR de 2.36 (IC95% 1,57-3,56). El precorte tipo fistulotomía fue usado con mayor frecuencia en la papila tipo 3 (46%) mientras que el uso de canulótomo fue más frecuente en la papila tipo 4 (29,6%). Conclusiones : Los tipos de papila 2, 3 y 4, están asociados a mayor riesgo de canulación difícil. Ello debe ser considerado al momento de realizar la CPRE a fin de reducir el riesgo de complicaciones.

ABSTRACT Introduction : Difficult cannulation in cases of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) could be associated with several factors, including: type of major papilla, however, there are limited data regarding this possible association. Objectives : To determine the association between the type of papilla and difficult biliary cannulation. Materials and methods : A retrospective cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in patients over 18 years old who underwent ERCP on papilla naive, from July 2019 to April 2021, in a private institution. Unsuccessful cannulations were excluded. The papilla was classified based on Haraldsson classification. The crude association and adjusted for possible confounders between the type of papilla and difficult cannulation was evaluated. Relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results : 188 patients were included. The mean age was 55 years, 66% female. The most frequent indication was choledocholithiasis with 88.5%. The most frequent type of major duodenal papilla was type 1 (32%), followed by type 3 (27%), type 2 (25%) and type 4 (16%). Type 2, 3, 4 papillae showed a significant relationship with difficult cannulation compared to type 1 (p<0.001, p<0.001 and p=0.008 respectively). The indication other than choledocholithiasis also showed a significant relationship with difficult cannulation (p<0.001). In the adjusted analysis, the RR for difficult cannulation compared to type 1 papilla was: 2.51 (95% CI 1.23-5.94) for type 2 papilla, 3.72 (95% CI 1.79-7.71) for papilla type 3 and 3.41 (95% CI 1.54-7.71) for type 4. The indication other than choledocholithiasis was also associated with a higher risk of difficult cannulation with a RR of 2.36 (95% CI 1.57-3.56). The fistulotomy type precut was used more frequently in the type 3 papilla (46%), while the use of cannula was more frequent in the type 4 papilla (29.6%). Conclusions : Papilla types 2, 3 and 4 are associated with a higher risk of difficult cannulation. This should be considered when performing ERCP in order to reduce the risk of complications.

Cytogenomics Unveil Possible Transposable Elements Driving Rearrangements in Chromosomes 2 and 4 of Solea senegalensis.

Cytogenomics, the integration of cytogenetic and genomic data, has been used here to reconstruct the evolution of chromosomes 2 and 4 of Solea senegalensis. S. senegalensis is a flat fish with a karyotype comprising 2n = 42 chromosomes: 6 metacentric + 4 submetacentric + 8 subtelocentric + 24 telocentric. The Fluorescence in situ Hybridization with Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes (FISH-BAC) technique was applied to locate BACs in these chromosomes (11 and 10 BACs in chromosomes 2 and 4, respectively) and to generate integrated maps. Synteny analysis, taking eight reference fish species (Cynoglossus semilaevis, Scophthalmus maximus, Sparus aurata, Gasterosteus aculeatus, Xiphophorus maculatus, Oryzias latipes, Danio rerio, and Lepisosteus oculatus) for comparison, showed that the BACs of these two chromosomes of S. senegalensis were mainly distributed in two principal chromosomes in the reference species. Transposable Elements (TE) analysis showed significant differences between the two chromosomes, in terms of number of loci per Mb and coverage, and the class of TE (I or II) present. Analysis of TE divergence in chromosomes 2 and 4 compared to their syntenic regions in four reference fish species (C. semilaevis, S. maximus, O. latipes, and D. rerio) revealed differences in their age of activity compared with those species but less notable differences between the two chromosomes. Differences were also observed in peaks of divergence and coverage of TE families for all reference species even in those close to S. senegalensis, like S. maximus and C. semilaevis. Considered together, chromosomes 2 and 4 have evolved by Robertsonian fusions, pericentric inversions, and other chromosomal rearrangements mediated by TEs.

[Association between the type of major duodenal papilla and difficult biliary cannulation in a private tertiary center]. / Asociación entre el tipo de papila duodenal mayor y canulación biliar difícil en centro terciario privado.

INTRODUCTION: Difficult cannulation in cases of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) could be associated with several factors, including: type of major papilla, however, there are limited data regarding this possible association. OBJECTIVES: To determine the association between the type of papilla and difficult biliary cannulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in patients over 18 years old who underwent ERCP on papilla naive, from July 2019 to April 2021, in a private institution. Unsuccessful cannulations were excluded. The papilla was classified based on Haraldsson classification. The crude association and adjusted for possible confounders between the type of papilla and difficult cannulation was evaluated. Relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: 188 patients were included. The mean age was 55 years, 66% female. The most frequent indication was choledocholithiasis with 88.5%. The most frequent type of major duodenal papilla was type 1 (32%), followed by type 3 (27%), type 2 (25%) and type 4 (16%). Type 2, 3, 4 papillae showed a significant relationship with difficult cannulation compared to type 1 (p<0.001, p<0.001 and p=0.008 respectively). The indication other than choledocholithiasis also showed a significant relationship with difficult cannulation (p<0.001). In the adjusted analysis, the RR for difficult cannulation compared to type 1 papilla was: 2.51 (95% CI 1.23-5.94) for type 2 papilla, 3.72 (95% CI 1.79-7.71) for papilla type 3 and 3.41 (95% CI 1.54-7.71) for type 4. Theindication other than choledocholithiasis was also associated with a higher risk of difficult cannulation with a RR of 2.36 (95% CI 1.57-3.56). The fistulotomy type precut was used more frequently in the type 3 papilla (46%), while the use of cannula was more frequent in the type 4 papilla (29.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Papilla types 2, 3 and 4 are associated with a higher risk of difficult cannulation. This should be considered when performing ERCP in order to reduce the risk of complications.

Clostridium perfringens as Foodborne Pathogen in Broiler Production: Pathophysiology and Potential Strategies for Controlling Necrotic Enteritis.

Clostridium perfringens (Cp.) is the cause of human foodborne desease. Meat and poultry products are identified as the main source of infection for humans. Cp. can be found in poultry litter, feces, soil, dust, and healthy birds' intestinal contents. Cp. strains are known to secrete over 20 identified toxins and enzymes that could potentially be the principal virulence factors, capable of degrading mucin, affecting enterocytes, and the small intestine epithelium, involved in necrotic enteritis (NE) pathophysiology, also leading to immunological responses, microbiota modification and anatomical changes. Different environmental and dietary factors can determine the colonization of this microorganism. It has been observed that the incidence of Cp-associated to NE in broilers has increased in countries that have stopped using antibiotic growth promoters. Since the banning of such antibiotic growth promoters, several strategies for Cp. control have been proposed, including dietary modifications, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, phytogenics, organic acids, and vaccines. However, there are aspects of the pathology that still need to be clarified to establish better actions to control and prevention. This paper reviews the current knowledge about Cp. as foodborne pathogen, the pathophysiology of NE, and recent findings on potential strategies for its control.

Chemical and biological protection of food grade nisin through their partial intercalation in laminar hydroxide salts.

The use of antimicrobial agents within a matrix, specifically layered compounds, is of growing interest for reducing contamination due to food borne pathogens and deteriorative microorganisms, one of the main health problems worldwide. In this study, zinc layered hydroxide nanoparticles were synthesized as a matrix for nisin immobilization. Layered materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-Transform Infrared and Ultra Violet-Visible spectra, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and by Thermogravimetric Analysis. Thermal, chemical, enzymatic, and biological stabilities were assessed against Lactobacillus brevis as control strain. Free and immobilized nisin in solution were previously subjected to 25 and 121 °C, pH (7, 9) and inactivation with protease before antimicrobial tests that lasted 21 days. Immobilized nisin was found to maintain the activity levels after the protease action while the pure nisin solution lost its activity gradually. Furthermore, immobilized nisin treated at 121 °C and pH 7 showed higher activity than pure nisin after 21 days. These results may support that immobilizing nisin in zinc layered hydroxide salts promoted extended nisin inhibitory activity in solution after thermal, chemical or enzymatic treatments. This research provides an alternative to nisin application that could be used in processes where such operating conditions take place, as in dairy products.

Evolution of the Proto Sex-Chromosome in Solea senegalensis.

Solea senegalensis is a flatfish belonging to the Soleidae family within the Pleuronectiformes order. It has a karyotype of 2n = 42 (FN = 60; 6M + 4 SM + 8 St + 24 T) and a XX/XY system. The first pair of metacentric chromosomes has been proposed as a proto sex-chromosome originated by a Robertsonian fusion between acrocentric chromosomes. In order to elucidate a possible evolutionary origin of this chromosome 1, studies of genomic synteny were carried out with eight fish species. A total of 88 genes annotated within of 14 BACs located in the chromosome 1 of S. senegalensis were used to elaborate syntenic maps. Six BACs (BAC5K5, BAC52C17, BAC53B20, BAC84K7, BAC56H24, and BAC48P7) were distributed in, at least, 5 chromosomes in the species studied, and a group of four genes from BAC53B20 (grsf1, rufy3, slc4a4 and npffr2) and genes from BAC48K7 (dmrt2, dmrt3, dmrt1, c9orf117, kank1 and fbp1) formed a conserved cluster in all species. The analysis of repetitive sequences showed that the number of retroelements and simple repeat per BAC showed its highest value in the subcentromeric region where 53B20, 16E16 and 48K7 BACs were localized. This region contains all the dmrt genes, which are associated with sex determination in some species. In addition, the presence of a satellite "chromosome Y" (motif length: 860 bp) was detected in this region. These findings allowed to trace an evolutionary trend for the large metacentric chromosome of S. senegalensis, throughout different rearrangements, which could be at an initial phase of differentiation as sex chromosome.

Immobilizing yeast ß-glucan on zinc-layered hydroxide nanoparticle improves innate immune response in fish leukocytes.

Nanoparticle-based delivery technologies have played a central role in a wide variety of applications, including cell therapy, gene transformation, and cellular delivery of molecular dyes. This work synthesized via ionic exchange a nanoparticle consisting of zinc-layered hydroxychloride coupled with yeast ß-glucan (ZG), whose cellular immune response was evaluated using fish spleen leukocytes. Leukocytes from the marine Pacific red snapper (Lutjanus peru) were stimulated with zinc-layered hydroxychloride (ZHC) coupled with yeast ß-glucan (GLU) and challenged with live Vibrio parahaemolyticus after 24 h. Structural characterization of this yeast glucan by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) indicated structures containing (1-6)-branched (1-3)-ß-D-glucan. The ZHC and ZG were characterized with X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The results of the immunological study showed that ZHC, GLU or ZG were safe for leukocytes because cell viability was higher than 80% compared with DMSO or V. parahaemolyticus exposure. The ZG or GLU treatments enhanced nitric oxide production, superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase activities. Induction of anti- and pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 and IL-17) genes was more pronounced in ZG or GLU treatments compared to the other groups. Based on the results, ZHC nanoparticles can be used as a delivery carrier of yeast ß-glucan for enhancing immunity in fish and have great potential application in the aquaculture industry.

Analytical Methods Used in the Quality Control of Honey.

Honey is a natural sweet substance produced by bees (Apis mellifera). In this work, the main parameters used in routine quality control of honey and the most commonly used analytical methods for their determination are reviewed. Honey can be adulterated with cheaper sweeteners or, indirectly, by feeding the bees with sugars. Therefore, methods for detecting and quantifying adulteration are necessary. Chromatographic techniques are widely used in honey analysis. More recently, techniques such as Raman, near-infrared, mid-infrared, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in combination with chemometric data processing have been proposed. However, spectroscopy does not allow the determination of enzyme activities, one criteria of great importance for the honey trade. Methylglyoxal is an interesting compound for its antibacterial properties. Methods for its determination are also reviewed.

Integrated gene mapping and synteny studies give insights into the evolution of a sex proto-chromosome in Solea senegalensis.

The evolution of genes related to sex and reproduction in fish shows high plasticity and, to date, the sex determination system has only been identified in a few species. Solea senegalensis has 42 chromosomes and an XX/XY chromosome system for sex determination, while related species show the ZZ/ZW system. Next-generation sequencing (NGS), multi-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (mFISH) techniques, and bioinformatics analysis have been carried out, with the objective of revealing new information about sex determination and reproduction in S. senegalensis. To that end, several bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones that contain candidate genes involved in such processes (dmrt1, dmrt2, dmrt3, dmrt4, sox3, sox6, sox8, sox9, lh, cyp19a1a, amh, vasa, aqp3, and nanos3) were analyzed and compared with the same region in other related species. Synteny studies showed that the co-localization of dmrt1-dmrt2-drmt3 in the largest metacentric chromosome of S. senegalensis is coincident with that found in the Z chromosome of Cynoglossus semilaevis, which would potentially make this a sex proto-chromosome. Phylogenetic studies show the close proximity of S. senegalensis to Oryzias latipes, a species with an XX/XY system and a sex master gene. Comparative mapping provides evidence of the preferential association of these candidate genes in particular chromosome pairs. By using the NGS and mFISH techniques, it has been possible to obtain an integrated genetic map, which shows that 15 out of 21 chromosome pairs of S. senegalensis have at least one BAC clone. This result is important for distinguishing those chromosome pairs of S. senegalensis that are similar in shape and size. The mFISH analysis shows the following co-localizations in the same chromosomes: dmrt1-dmrt2-dmrt3, dmrt4-sox9-thrb, aqp3-sox8, cyp19a1a-fshb, igsf9b-sox3, and lysg-sox6.

Rapid and not culture-dependent assay based on multiplex PCR-SSR analysis for monitoring inoculated yeast strains in industrial wine fermentations.

Wine industry needs a simple method for rapid diagnosis of the dominance of inoculated strains that could be performed routinely during the fermentation process. We present a suitable, high-throughput, and low-cost method to monitor rapidly the dominance of inoculated yeast strains in industrial fermentations of red and white wines using an activated carbon cleaning pretreatment, and a rapid DNA extraction method plus multiplex PCR-SSR analysis. We apply this technique directly to samples of fermenting wines without previously isolating yeast colonies. Results are obtained in a maximum time of 4.5 h.

Analysis of temperature-mediated changes in the wine yeast Saccharomyces bayanus var uvarum. An oenological study of how the protein content influences wine quality.

Saccharomyces bayanus var. uvarum plays an important role in the fermentation of red wine from the D.O. Ribera del Duero. This is due to the special organoleptic taste that this yeast gives the wines and their ability to ferment at low temperature. To determine the molecular factors involved in the fermentation process at low temperature, a differential proteomic approach was performed by using 2D-DIGE, comparing, qualitatively and quantitatively, the profiles obtained at 13 and 25°C. A total of 152 protein spots were identified. We detected proteins upregulated at 13°C that were shown to be related to temperature stress, the production of aromatic compounds involved in the metabolism of amino acids, and the production of fusel alcohols and their derivatives, each of which is directly related to the quality of the wines. To check the temperature effects, an aromatic analysis by GC-MS was performed. The proteomic and "aromatomic" results are discussed in relation to the oenological properties of S. bayanus var. uvarum.