Marine Science Can Contribute to the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Life.

Life on our planet likely evolved in the ocean, and thus exo-oceans are key habitats to search for extraterrestrial life. We conducted a data-driven bibliographic survey on the astrobiology literature to identify emerging research trends with marine science for future synergies in the exploration for extraterrestrial life in exo-oceans. Based on search queries, we identified 2592 published items since 1963. The current literature falls into three major groups of terms focusing on (1) the search for life on Mars, (2) astrobiology within our Solar System with reference to icy moons and their exo-oceans, and (3) astronomical and biological parameters for planetary habitability. We also identified that the most prominent research keywords form three key-groups focusing on (1) using terrestrial environments as proxies for Martian environments, centred on extremophiles and biosignatures, (2) habitable zones outside of "Goldilocks" orbital ranges, centred on ice planets, and (3) the atmosphere, magnetic field, and geology in relation to planets' habitable conditions, centred on water-based oceans.

Universal prenatal screening: a initiative from Guanajuato, Mexico to improve equity in perinatal healthcare.

The prenatal approach from a preventive perspective is necessary to reduce perinatal complications. A perinatal care model with a holistic and horizontal approach is required. Mexico is currently considered an emerging market economy with inequality and an economic gap that impacts the accessibility and distribution of healthcare services. Guanajuato is one of the 32 states of Mexico and represents 1.6% of the country's surface. Strategies during the prenatal approach allow prediction, diagnosis, and anticipation of the principal causes of morbidity and mortality. Combining data from maternal characteristics and history with findings of biophysical and biochemical tests at 11 to 13 weeks of gestation can define the patient-specific risk for a large spectrum of complications that include miscarriage and fetal death, preterm delivery, preeclampsia, congenital disorders, and fetal growth abnormalities. We aim to describe the care model designed and implemented in the State Center for Timely Prenatal Screening of the Maternal and Child Hospital of Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico. Previous research showed there is a lack of information for low and middle-income countries regarding how to integrate prenatal screening strategies in the absence of resources to perform cell-free fetal DNA or biochemical serum markers in countries with emergent economies. This care model is carried out through horizontal processes where the screening is provided by trained and certified general practitioners who identify the population at risk in a timely manner for specialized care, and could help guide other Mexican states, and other countries with emergent economies with limited financial, professional, and infrastructural resources to improve prenatal care with a sense of equity, equality, and social inclusion as well as the timely evaluation of specialized perinatal care of high-risk patients.

Manganese translocation and concentration on Quercus cerris decomposing leaf and wood litter by an ascomycetous fungus: an active process with ecosystem consequences?

Decomposing fungi translocate manganese (Mn) as demonstrated by the fact that Mn has been found to accumulate on decomposing leaves associated with individual fungal hyphae forming insoluble Mn(III,IV) oxides that remain concentrated in diffuse patches. Here, we studied Mn translocation and precipitation by the saprophytic fungus Alternaria sp. strain FBL507 both on naturally decomposing oak leaves and in vitro experiments. Manganese was translocated and precipitated in beads and encrustations along the fungal hyphae. The combination of X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy chemical data showed that the precipitates found on leaves were rhodochrosite (MnCO3), birnessite ([Na, Ca, K]Mn2O4× 1.5H2O) and possibly Mn oxalate. The precipitates on wood were an amorphous Mn-O compound, probably MnO. Thus, Mn oxidation state in the precipitates spanned from +2 to +4, with +3 and +4 only in the birnessite on the leaves. In vitro experiments showed that Mn precipitates formed in living hyphae, suggesting the possibility that Mn precipitation is actively produced by the fungus. Such a possibility raises interesting questions regarding the role of readily available Mn in the activity of saprophytic fungi and other soil microorganisms, such as would result in a large involvement of Mn in the cycles of the major nutrient elements.

Ancient hydrothermal seafloor deposits in Eridania basin on Mars.

The Eridania region in the southern highlands of Mars once contained a vast inland sea with a volume of water greater than that of all other Martian lakes combined. Here we show that the most ancient materials within Eridania are thick (>400 m), massive (not bedded), mottled deposits containing saponite, talc-saponite, Fe-rich mica (for example, glauconite-nontronite), Fe- and Mg-serpentine, Mg-Fe-Ca-carbonate and probable Fe-sulphide that likely formed in a deep water (500-1,500 m) hydrothermal setting. The Eridania basin occurs within some of the most ancient terrain on Mars where striking evidence for remnant magnetism might suggest an early phase of crustal spreading. The relatively well-preserved seafloor hydrothermal deposits in Eridania are contemporaneous with the earliest evidence for life on Earth in potentially similar environments 3.8 billion years ago, and might provide an invaluable window into the environmental conditions of early Earth.

Haemolytic activity of soil from areas of varying podoconiosis endemicity in Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Podoconiosis, non-filarial elephantiasis, is a non-infectious disease found in tropical regions such as Ethiopia, localized in highland areas with volcanic soils cultivated by barefoot subsistence farmers. It is thought that soil particles can pass through the soles of the feet and taken up by the lymphatic system, leading to the characteristic chronic oedema of the lower legs that becomes disfiguring and disabling over time. METHODS: The close association of the disease with volcanic soils led us to investigate the characteristics of soil samples in an endemic area in Ethiopia to identify the potential causal constituents. We used the in vitro haemolysis assay and compared haemolytic activity (HA) with soil samples collected in a non-endemic region of the same area in Ethiopia. We included soil samples that had been previously characterized, in addition we present other data describing the characteristics of the soil and include pure phase mineral standards as comparisons. RESULTS: The bulk chemical composition of the soils were statistically significantly different between the podoconiosis-endemic and non-endemic areas, with the exception of CaO and Cr. Likewise, the soil mineralogy was statistically significant for iron oxide, feldspars, mica and chlorite. Smectite and kaolinite clays were widely present and elicited a strong HA, as did quartz, in comparison to other mineral phases tested, although no strong difference was found in HA between soils from the two areas. The relationship was further investigated with principle component analysis (PCA), which showed that a combination of an increase in Y, Zr and Al2O3, and a concurrent increase Fe2O3, TiO2, MnO and Ba in the soils increased HA. CONCLUSION: The mineralogy and chemistry of the soils influenced the HA, although the interplay between the components is complex. Further research should consider the variable biopersistance, hygroscopicity and hardness of the minerals and further characterize the nano-scale particles.

Routes of phlogopite weathering by three fungal strains.

Fungi dissolve soil minerals by acidification and mechanical disruption. Dissolution may occur at the microscale (contact between fungus and mineral) and medium scale (entire mineral grains). Mineral weathering by fungi and other microorganisms is thought to be of significant global contribution, perhaps producing specific weathering signatures. We report fungal dissolution of phlogopite mica in experiments with three fungal strains (Alternaria tenuissima, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Stilbella sp.) on solid medium for 30 days at 21 °C and 96-100% relative humidity. The study used variable-pressure SEM-EDS equipped with charge contrast imaging. Statistical analysis of the results discriminated between the weathering activities of the three fungal species, which increased from Stilbella sp. to C. cladosporioides to A. tenuissima, in agreement with the respective decreasing pH in the media (6.4, 5.8, 5.2 ± 0.03). Phlogopite weathering features were irregular and variable, apparently not caused by direct contact with fungal hyphae. EDS values indicated two or more dissolution mechanisms, one of them suggesting cation rearrangement in the mica towards formation of Al-rich smectite. Intimate fungus-mineral interaction was observed, and the lack of observable dissolution traces from such contact interaction is interpreted as the result of effacing by the more intense acid leaching operating at larger scale.

Reactions of lysine with montmorillonite at 80 degrees C: implications for optical activity, H+ transfer and lysine-montmorillonite binding.

Amino acid-smectite interaction may have catalyzed prebiotic reactions essential for the emergence of life. Lysine solutions (0.05 M) were reacted with Na-smectite in adsorption-desorption experiments. The lysine-smectite complexes were heated at 80 degrees C for 10 days to investigate (1) possible slow processes taking place at surface temperature that would be accelerated at higher temperature and (2) processes taking place in hydrothermal systems. Three sets of experiments were performed: thermal treatment in closed tubes and water added regularly; thermal treatment in closed tubes without adding water; and thermal treatment in open tubes and no added water. After lysine desorption (displacement with 0.1 M CaCl(2)), the solutions were investigated using circular dichroism (CD) and the smectite samples using FTIR and CHN elemental analysis. CD spectra were dependent on the solution pH, which was controlled by lysine protonation state. The lysine protonation state was altered by the adsorption-desorption process, with a higher Lys(+)/Lys(+/-) ratio after desorption. The CD and CHN analyses show that the thermal treatment in a moist state causes stronger smectite-lysine binding. FTIR data suggest that the stronger binding is caused by more or stronger H bonds between -NH(3)(+) lysine groups and smectite basal O atoms.