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The mucilage is an interesting compound found in cladodes of species of Opuntia (Cactaceae). The aim of this work was to extract the mucilages from Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) and O. quimilo (OQ) cladodes and to examine their physicochemical characteristics, microstructure, and functional properties in solution. The mucilages exhibited high contents of carbohydrates, proteins, and minerals. Both mucilages presented a diverse monosaccharide composition, mainly constituted of galactose and arabinose. The FTIR spectra showed characteristic polysaccharide nature, whereas the diffractograms demonstrated an amorphous structure. The intrinsic viscosity of OFI mucilage was 3.08 dL/g, while that of OQ mucilage was 10.33 dL/g. Although the molecular weights of both mucilages are in the order of those of commercial gums, that of OQ was higher. This is consistent with the pseudoplastic behavior of OQ mucilage. However, OFI mucilage showed Newtonian behavior over the range of concentrations evaluated. This is fully consistent with that of semi-diluted solutions and in accordance with the lower molecular weight of this mucilage. The mucilages presented maximum solubility at 60 °C, although the mucilage of OFI was slightly more soluble than that of OQ. The chemical composition and functional properties of the mucilages can be affected by the extraction method and conditions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Microbial exopolymers are gaining attention as sources for the development of biodegradable materials. Milk kefir, a fermented dairy product produced by a symbiotic community of microorganisms, generates milk kefir grains as a by-product, consisting of the polysaccharide kefiran and proteins. This study develops two materials, one from whole milk kefir grains and another from purified kefiran. Film-forming dispersions were subjected to ultrasonic homogenisation and thermal treatment, yielding homogeneous dispersions. Kefiran dispersion exhibited lower pseudoplastic behaviour and higher viscous consistency, with minimal effects from glycerol. Both films exhibited continuous and homogeneous microstructures, with kefiran films being transparent and milk kefir films displaying a yellowish tint. Analysis revealed that milk kefir films comprised approximately 30% proteins and 70% kefiran. Kefiran films demonstrated stronger interpolymeric interactions, as evidenced using thermogravimetric and mechanical tests. Glycerol increased hydration while decreasing thermal stability, glass transition temperature, elastic modulus, and tensile strength in both films. However, in kefiran films, elongation at the break and water vapour permeability decreased at low glycerol content, followed by an increase at higher plasticiser contents. This suggests an unusual interaction between glycerol and kefiran in the absence of proteins. These findings underscore differences between materials derived from the whole by-product and purified kefiran, offering insights into their potential applications.

Chronic wounds and burns are a worldwide healthcare problem that erodes patients' well-being and healthcare systems. This silent and costly epidemic requires new, cost-efficient solutions to improve patients' physical and economic welfare. Eschar-degrading vegetal and bacterial proteases have been utilized as a solution. However, these proteins are evolutionarily far from those present in human wound healing. Serine protease (SP) and annexin (ANX) proteins interact within the skin healing process. A homology-based identification pipeline can help in discovering selective human SP and ANX analogs in the epithelial tissue of the fast-healing species, Pangasius hypophthalmus . In the present work, we found 14 candidates for RT-PCR in P. hypophthalmus using homology inference. The genetically detected candidates were then structurally and sequentially analyzed to understand their possible relation to SPs and ANXs involved in human wound healing. A total of six TBLASTN/BLASTX candidates (four SPs and two ANXs) were detected in P. hypophthalmus skin. Structural analysis revealed that all SP candidates resembled human KLK4, KLK5, KLK6, and KLK8, whereas all ANX only resembled human ANXA4. Structure and sequence analysis revealed high conservation of ANX Ca 2+ binding sites (GDXD) and SP catalytic triad (HDS) motifs. In addition, structural analysis revealed that SP substrate selectivity position 186 was the main difference between human KLK5 and P. hypophthalmus SPs. These findings may allow the proposal and testing of more selective formulations, broadening treatments beyond debridement., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

The virus is the smallest known replicative unit, usually in nanometer-range sizes. The most simple and sensitive detection assay involves molecular amplification of nucleic acids. This work shows a novel, straightforward detection based on the interaction of viral particles with fluorescent nanoconstructs without using enzymatic amplification, washing or separation steps. Fluorescent nanoconstructs are prepared with individual quantum dots of different emitting green and red fluorescence as a core. They are decorated with aptamers developed to recognise the receptor-binding region of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Nanoconstructs can recognise SARS-CoV-2 viral particles fixed onto a coverglass generating aggregates. Meanwhile, SARS-CoV-2 viral particles/nanoconstructs complexes in solution yield aggregates and complexes, which a fluorescence microscope can visualise. The multiple molecular recognition allowed the detection of SARS-CoV-2 viral particles from a few microliters of patient swabs. This specific SARS-CoV-2/nanoconstructs interaction generates insoluble and precipitating aggregates. By using a mixture of green and red fluorescent nanoconstructs, upon the viral particle interaction, they yield heterochromatic green, red and yellow spectral fluorescence, easily identifiable by a fluorescence microscope. Washing and separation steps are not required, and aggregates allow one to easily recognise them, offering a sensitive, simple, and cheap alternative for viral detection., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Martin Radrizzani & Mariano Grasselli has patent pending to Universidad Nacional de San Martin/Universidad Nacional de Quilmes., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Fenbendazole is an antiparasitic drug widely used in veterinary medicine to treat parasitic infections caused in animals like cattle, horses, sheep, and dogs. Recently, it has been repositioned as a potential alternative for cancer treatment. However, it is a highly hydrophobic molecule (0.9 ug/mL), which can compromise its dissolution rate and absorption. Thus, this work aimed to apply a nanotechnological approach to improve drug solubility and dissolution performance. Fenbendazole nanoparticles stabilized by different poloxamers were obtained by lyophilization without cryoprotectants. The behavior of the drug in the solid state was analyzed by X-ray diffractometry, differential scanning calorimetry, and infrared spectroscopy. The nanosystems were also evaluated for solubility and dissolution rate. A long-term stability evaluation was performed for three years at room temperature. The yields of the lyophilization ranged between 75 and 81% for each lot. The nanoparticles showed a submicron size (< 340 nm) and a low polydispersity depending on the stabilizer. The physicochemical properties of the prepared systems indicated a remarkable amorphization of the drug, which influenced its solubility and dissolution performance. The drug dissolution from both the fresh and aged nanosystems was significantly higher than that of the raw drug. In particular, nanoparticles prepared with poloxamer 407 showed no significant modifications in their particle size in three years of storage. Physical stability studies indicated that the obtained systems prepared with P188, P237, and P407 suffered certain recrystallization during long storage at 25 °C. These findings confirm that selected poloxamers exhibited an important effect in formulating fenbendazole nanosystems with improved dissolution., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists.)

Lyme disease, a multisystemic infectious disorder caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Borrelia transmitted by the bite of ticks, typically from the family Ixodidae, pose a significant public health issue worldwide. The Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) group encompasses the Borrelia Lyme Group (LG), Borrelia Echidna-Reptile Group (REPG), and Borrelia Relapsing Fever Group (RFG), with some species remaining unclassified due to culturing challenges. Research into B. burgdorferi s.l. infection (Lyme Group) has intensified, focusing on its epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Originally identified in North America and Europe, Lyme disease has now become a global concern, with Latin American countries reporting the microorganism, the disease, and/or its vectors. In Argentina, the presence of B. burgdorferi and Lyme disease has sparked significant scientific and medical debate. Ecological changes due to climate and habitat shifts have expanded the geographical distribution of these ticks. Argentina, with its diverse geography and climate, hosts various tick species that could potentially act as Lyme disease vectors, raising important public health questions. The confirmed presence of B. burgdorferi s.l. and Lyme disease in Argentina remains contentious but relevant, necessitating thorough scientific and medical examination. This work aims to enhance understanding and discussion of Lyme disease in Argentina by presenting clinical cases and their laboratory analyses, highlighting the disease's presence and implications in the country. Through documenting suspected clinical cases and analyzing available data on B. burgdorferi and Lyme disease in Argentina, this study seeks to contribute to the understanding of the disease's current status and inform future research, prevention, and control strategies in the region. The goal is to provide a basis for addressing Lyme disease's public health impact in Argentina and promote further investigation into this evolving issue.

In the context of replacing animal proteins in food matrices, rice proteins (RP) become promised because they come from an abundant plant source, are hypoallergenic, and have high digestibility and nutritional value. However, commercial protein isolates obtained by spray drying have low solubility and poor functionality, especially in their isoelectric point. One way to modify these properties is through interaction with polysaccharides, such as gum arabic (GA). Therefore, this work aims to evaluate the effects of pH and GA concentration on the interaction and emulsifying activity of RP:GA coacervates. First, the effects of pH (2.5 to 7.0) and GA concentrations (0.2 to 1.0 wt%, giving rise to RP:GA mass ratios of 1:0.2 to 1:1.0) in RP:GA blends were evaluated. The results demonstrated that biopolymers present opposite net charges at pH between 2.5 and 4.0. At pH 3.0, insoluble coacervates with complete charge neutralization were formed by electrostatic interactions, while at pH 5.0 it was observed that the presence of GA prevented the RP massive aggregation. Second, selected blends with 0.4 or 1.0 wt% of GA (RP:GA mass ratios of 1:0.4 or 1:1.0) at pH 3.0 or 5.0 were tested for their ability to stabilize oil-in-water emulsions. The emulsions were characterized for 21 days. It was observed that the GA increased the stability of RP emulsions, regardless of the pH and polysaccharide concentration. Taken together, our results show that it is possible to combine RP and GA to improve the emulsifying properties of these plant proteins at pH conditions close to their isoelectric point, expanding the possibility of implementation in food systems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Research on innovative mucosal adjuvants is essential to develop new vaccines for safe mucosal application. In this work, we propose the development of a Lactococcus lactis that expresses a variant of flagellin on its surface (FliC131*), to increase the adjuvanticity of the living cell and cell wall-derived particles (CWDP). We optimized the expression of FliC131*, and confirmed its identity and localization by Western blot and flow cytometry. We also generated CWDP containing FliC131* (CDWP-FliC131*) and evaluated their storage stability. Lastly, we measured the human TLR5 stimulating activity in vitro and assessed the adjuvanticity in vivo using ovalbumin (OVA) as a model antigen. As a result, we generated L. lactis/pCWA-FliC131*, that expresses and displays FliC131* on its surface, obtained the corresponding CWDP-FliC131*, and showed that both activated hTLR5 in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, CWDP-FliC131* retained this biological activity after being lyophilized and stored for a year. Finally, intranasal immunization of mice with OVA plus live L. lactis/pCWA-FliC131* or CWDP-FliC131* induced OVA-specific IgG and IgA in serum, intestinal lavages, and bronchoalveolar lavages. Our work demonstrates the potential of this recombinant L. lactis with an enhanced adjuvant effect, prompting its further evaluation for the design of novel mucosal vaccines., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 American Pharmacists Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The impact of COVID-19 on paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) in Argentina and the consequences generated by the pandemic are discussed. From 2018 to 3 years after the pandemic declaration, 285 proven PCM patients were registered. No association between both diseases was documented. PCM frequency decreased to extremely low levels in 2020. Mandatory social isolation and the emotional and psychological effects generated under pandemic circumstances led to delays in diagnosis, severe disseminated cases, and other challenges for diagnosis in subsequent years. Probable underdiagnosis should be considered due to the overlap of clinical manifestations, the low index of suspicion and the lack of sensitive diagnostic tools., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Main Conclusion: We generated transplastomic tobacco lines that stably express a human Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (hFGFb) in their chloroplasts stroma and purified a biologically active recombinant hFGFb. MAIN: The use of plants as biofactories presents as an attractive technology with the potential to efficiently produce high-value human recombinant proteins in a cost-effective manner. Plastid genome transformation stands out for its possibility to accumulate recombinant proteins at elevated levels. Of particular interest are recombinant growth factors, given their applications in animal cell culture and regenerative medicine. In this study, we produced recombinant human Fibroblast Growth Factor (rhFGFb), a crucial protein required for animal cell culture, in tobacco chloroplasts. We successfully generated two independent transplastomic lines that are homoplasmic and accumulate rhFGFb in their leaves. Furthermore, the produced rhFGFb demonstrated its biological activity by inducing proliferation in HEK293T cell lines. These results collectively underscore plastid genome transformation as a promising plant-based bioreactor for rhFGFb production., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Intracranial pressure (ICP) can be continuously and reliably measured using invasive monitoring through an external ventricular catheter or an intraparenchymal probe. We explore electroencephalography (EEG) to identify a reliable real-time noninvasive ICP correlate., Methods: Using a previously described porcine model of intracranial hypertension, we examined the cross correlation between ICP time series and the slope of the EEG power spectral density as described by ϕ. We calculated ϕ as tan -1 (slope of power spectral density) and normalized it by π, where slope is that of the power-law fit (log frequency vs. log power) to the power spectral density of the EEG signal. Additionally, we explored the relationship between the ϕ time series and cerebral perfusion pressure. A total of 11 intracranial hypertension episodes across three different animals were studied., Results: The mean correlation between ϕ angle and ICP was - 0.85 (0.15); the mean correlation with cerebral perfusion pressure was 0.92 (0.02). Significant correlation occurred at zero lag. In the absence of intracranial hypertension, the absolute value of the ϕ angle was greater than 0.9 (mean 0.936 radians). However, during extreme intracranial hypertension causing cerebral circulatory arrest, the ϕ angle is on average below 0.9 radians (mean 0.855 radians)., Conclusions: EEG ϕ angle is a promising real-time noninvasive measure of ICP/cerebral perfusion using surface electroencephalography., (© 2023. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature and Neurocritical Care Society.)

Sodium alendronate (ALN) is a very hydrosoluble and poorly permeable molecule used as an antiresorptive agent and with vascular anticalcifying capacity. Loaded into targeted nanovesicles, its anti-inflammatory activity may be amplified towards extra-osseous and noncalcified target cells, such as severely irritated vascular endothelium. Here cytotoxicity, mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP content, and membrane fluidity of human endothelial venous cells (HUVECs) were determined after endocytosis of ALN-loaded nanoarchaeosomes (nanoARC-Chol(ALN), made of polar lipids from Halorubrum tebenquichense : cholesterol 7:3 w/w, 166 ± 5 nm, 0.16 ± 0.02 PDI, -40.8 ± 5.4 mV potential, 84.7 ± 21 µg/mg ALN/total lipids, TL). The effect of nanoARC-Chol(ALN) was further assessed on severely inflamed HUVECs. To that aim, HUVECs were grown on a porous barrier on top of a basal compartment seeded either with macrophages or human foam cells. One lighter and one more pronounced inflammatory context was modelled by adding lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to the apical or the apical and basal compartments. The endocytosis of nanoARC-Chol(ALN), was observed to partly reduce the endothelial-mesenchymal transition of HUVECs. Besides, while 10 mg/mL dexamethasone, 7.6 mM free ALN and ALN-loaded liposomes failed, 50 μg/mL TL + 2.5 μg/mL ALN (i.e., nanoARC-Chol(ALN)) reduced the IL-6 and IL-8 levels by, respectively, 75% and 65% in the mild and by, respectively, 60% and 40% in the pronounced inflammation model. This is the first report showing that the endocytosis of nanoARC-Chol(ALN) by HUVECs magnifies the anti-inflammatory activity of ALN even under conditions of intense irritation, not only surpassing that of free ALN but also that of dexamethasone., (Copyright © 2024, Jerez et al.)

Chagas disease (CD) is the most important endemic parasitosis in South America and represents a great socioeconomic burden for the chronically ill and their families. The only currently available treatment against CD is based on the oral administration of benznidazole, an agent, developed in 1971, of controversial effectiveness on chronically ill patients and toxic to adults. So far, conventional pharmacological approaches have failed to offer more effective and less toxic alternatives to benznidazole. Nanomedicines reduce toxicity and increase the effectiveness of current oncological therapies. Could nanomedicines improve the treatment of the neglected CD? This question will be addressed in this review, first by critically discussing selected reports on the performance of benznidazole and other molecules formulated as nanomedicines in in vitro and in vivo CD models. Taking into consideration the developmental barriers for nanomedicines and the degree of current technical preclinical efforts, a prospect of developing nanomedicines against CD will be provided. Not surprisingly, we conclude that structurally simpler formulations with minimal production cost, such as oral nanocrystals and/or parenteral nano-immunostimulants, have the highest chances of making it to the market to treat CD. Nonetheless, substantive political and economic decisions, key to facing technological challenges, are still required regarding a realistic use of nanomedicines effective against CD., (Copyright © 2024, Morilla et al.)

Purpose: This study aims to describe the total EEG energy during episodes of intracranial hypertension (IH) and evaluate its potential as a classification feature for IH., New Methods: We computed the sample correlation coefficient between intracranial pressure (ICP) and the total EEG energy. Additionally, a generalized additive model was employed to assess the relationship between arterial blood pressure (ABP), total EEG energy, and the odds of IH., Results: The median sample cross-correlation between total EEG energy and ICP was 0.7, and for cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) was 0.55. Moreover, the proposed model exhibited an accuracy of 0.70, sensitivity of 0.53, specificity of 0.79, precision of 0.54, F1-score of 0.54, and an AUC of 0.7., Comparison With Existing Methods: The only existing comparable methods, up to our knowledge, use 13 variables as predictor of IH, our model uses only 3, our model, as it is an extension of the generalized model is interpretable and it achieves the same performance., Conclusion: These findings hold promise for the advancement of multimodal monitoring systems in neurocritical care and the development of a non-invasive ICP monitoring tool, particularly in resource-constrained environments., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Using a buffalo whey proteins concentrate (BWPC) as a nanocarrier of labile bioactive compounds as vitamins constitutes a very innovative approach with potential application in the food and nutraceutical industries. This work aims to deepen the knowledge of the phenomena occurring in the complexation process of vitamin B9 with BWPC, providing valuable information on the molecular and functional properties of complexes and intervening substances. For such purpose, analytical (SEC-FPLC, Fluorescence spectroscopy, FTIR, DLS, UV-vis spectroscopy) and in-silico methods (molecular docking) were performed to get complementary data. Five types of proteins were identified in the BWPC. Folic acid (FA) interacted with BWPC in buffer pH 7 through H-bonds and hydrophobic interactions, inducing conformational changes and modifying the secondary and tertiary protein structure. The resultant BWPC-FA complexes showed a size distribution in the nanoscale (100-150 nm) with no aggregation. Molecular docking showed that lactoferrin had the highest FA binding affinity. Complexation did not reduce the antioxidant activity of intervening substances. Indeed, the radical scavenging capacity of BWPC-FA was 20 % higher than single BWPC. The obtained results provide relevant data enabling the adding value of the main effluent of buffalo dairy industries., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Lyme Group) is the causative agent of Lyme disease, transmitted to humans through tick bites carrying the bacteria. Common symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and the characteristic erythema migrans skin rash. If left untreated, the infection can affect joints, the cardiac system, and the nervous system. Diagnosis relies on symptoms, clinical signs (such as the rash), and potential exposure to infected ticks, with laboratory tests proving valuable when appropriately employed with validated methods. Most cases of Lyme disease respond effectively to a few weeks of antibiotic treatment. In Latin America, knowledge of Lyme disease is limited and often confounded, underscoring the significance of this review in aiding medical professionals in recognizing the disease. This study delves explicitly into Lyme disease in Argentina, neighboring countries, and other Latin American nations.

The increased emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a serious health problem worldwide. In this sense, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have received increasing attention for their antimicrobial activity. In this context, the goal of this study was to produce AgNPs by a green synthesis protocol using an aqueous leaf extract of Schinus areira as biocomposite to later characterize their antimicrobial action. The nanomaterials obtained were characterized by UV‒vis spectroscopy, DLS, TEM, and Raman, confirming the presence of quasi-spherical AgNPs with a negative surface charge and diameter around 11 nm. Afterward, the minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentration of the AgNPs against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were obtained, showing high antibacterial activity. In both of the examined bacteria, the AgNPs were able to raise intracellular ROS levels. In E. coli, the AgNPs can harm the bacterial membrane as well. Overall, it can be concluded that it was possible to obtain AgNPs with colloidal stability and antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Our findings point to at least two separate mechanisms that can cause cell death, one of which involves bacterial membrane damage and the other of which involves intracellular ROS induction., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Rice protein isolates (RPI) are promising plant-protein sources but present low solubility and poor surface activity in neutral conditions. Improving these characteristics is a crucial challenge to capitalize on them. This is the first work performing pH-shifting, ultrasound, and heat treatments on a commercial RPI. The combined approaches increased the protein solubility (from ∼2.7% to ∼91.8%) and surface hydrophobicity (up to ∼283%) and induced the formation of less compact and more dispersed protein aggregates. The pH-shifting induced the unfolding of protein molecules and aggregates making them available for modification by both ultrasound and heating, which are supposed to induce further protein unfolding, exposure of buried hydrophobic amino acid, and protein hydrolysis. Also, the combined approaches generated modified RPI able to form oil-in-water emulsions with reduced particle size and enhanced stability than the untreated RPI. Therefore, this work presents an effective combined approach to enhance the techno-functional properties of rice proteins., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Pickering emulsions are a kind of emulsion stabilized by solid particles. These particles generate a physical or mechanical barrier that provides long-term stability to emulsion. Cellulose nanofibers are effective Pickering emulsifiers given their long length, high flexibility and entanglement capability. In this work, soybean hull insoluble polysaccharides (HIPS) were used as source of cellulose nanofibers by using a combination of chemical and mechanical treatment. The chemical composition, morphology, flow behavior, water holding capacity (WHC) and emulsifying properties of the nanofibers were studied., Results: Nanofibers with diameters between 35 and 110 nm were obtained. The WHC increased significantly after the mechanical treatment, and the rheological behavior of the nanofibers was typical of cellulosic materials. Nanofibers were effective emulsifiers in oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions formulated under acidic conditions, without the need of using any additional surfactant. Emulsions were not affected by changes in the pH of the medium (3.00-5.00), and were stable to coalescence., Conclusion: It is possible that cellulose nanofibers form an entangled network which acts as a mechanical steric barrier, providing stability to coalescence. These results are important for the development of effective O/W Pickering emulsifiers/stabilizers, with large applications in the food industry. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Baculoviruses are viral pathogens that infect different species of Lepidoptera, Diptera, and Hymenoptera, with a global distribution. Due to their biological characteristics and the biotechnological applications derived from these entities, the Baculoviridae family is an important subject of study and manipulation in the natural sciences. With the advent of RNA interference mechanisms, the presence of baculoviral genes that do not code for proteins but instead generate transcripts similar to microRNAs (miRNAs) has been described. These miRNAs are functionally associated with the regulation of gene expression, both in viral and host sequences. This article provides a comprehensive review of miRNA biogenesis, function, and characterization in general, with a specific focus on those identified in baculoviruses. Furthermore, it delves into the specific roles of baculoviral miRNAs in regulating viral and host genes and presents structural and thermodynamic stability studies that are useful for detecting shared characteristics with predictive utility. This review aims to expand our understanding of the baculoviral miRNAome, contributing to improvements in the production of baculovirus-based biopesticides, management of resistance phenomena in pests, enhancement of recombinant protein production systems, and development of diverse and improved BacMam vectors to meet biomedical demands.

Brewer's spent grain (BSG) is the main solid waste generated in beer production and primarily consists of barley malt husks. Based on the active promotion of circular economy practices aimed at recycling food industry by-products, this study assessed for the first time the production of particleboards based on BSG as the sole source of lignocellulosic material and natural adhesive without the use of additives or other substrates. In order to achieve particleboards from entirely sustainable sources, BSG particles have to self-bind by thermo-compression with water. In this context, the aim of this study is to assess the effects of pressing temperatures and particle size on properties such as modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, internal bond, thickness swelling, and water absorption. The performance of binderless boards was compared with that of a control panel (control) using BSG combined with phenolic resin. Processing conditions were selected to produce boards with a target density of 1000 kg/m³ and a thickness of 5 mm. To confirm the efficiency of the self-adhesion process, scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the boards. The processes of self-adhesion and particle-to-particle contact were facilitated at a pressing temperature of 170 °C and a particle size range of 200-2380 µm (ground BSG), resulting in improved flexural properties and enhanced water resistance. The properties of BSG-based binderless boards were comparable to those reported for other biomass residues, suggesting that they might be used in non-structural applications, such as interior decoration.

Rodentia has a high species number and chromosomal variability. The South American genus Akodon is one of the most speciose muroids, with more than 40 species included in several species groups. Here, we characterize cytogenetically specimens of Akodon from central-western Argentina. Subsequently, we reviewed and analyzed the cytogenetic data for this genus, build a phylogeny and mapped chromosome changes to interpret its evolution. Specimens of A. dolores from central-western Argentina have 2n=42-44/FNa=44 (46, 48) due to a Robertsonian rearrangement. Our data expand the distribution range known for this polymorphism and confirm its geographic structure. Other specimens had 2n=40/FNa=40, representing populations of A. oenos, A. polopi, and A. spegazzinii. All karyotypes have a low amount of heterochromatin, concentrated in centromeres and sex chromosomes, as in other rodents. The complement with 2n=40/FNa=40 is the most frequent in Akodon and is shared by most species in some groups. Chromosome numbers are very diverse. The FNa shows less variability; FNa=42 was recovered as ancestral, excluding A. mimus, which was connected at the base of the Akodon tree and has FNa=44. This indicates a complex chromosome evolution in Akodon, and suggests that reductions and increases in the 2n and FNa evolved independently in some lineages.

Over the past decade, myriads of studies have highlighted the central role of protein condensation in subcellular compartmentalization and spatiotemporal organization of biological processes. Conceptually, protein condensation stands at the highest level in protein structure hierarchy, accounting for the assembly of bodies ranging from thousands to billions of molecules and for densities ranging from dense liquids to solid materials. In size, protein condensates range from nanocondensates of hundreds of nanometers (mesoscopic clusters) to phase-separated micron-sized condensates. In this review, we focus on protein nanocondensation, a process that can occur in subsaturated solutions and can nucleate dense liquid phases, crystals, amorphous aggregates, and fibers. We discuss the nanocondensation of proteins in the light of general physical principles and examine the biophysical properties of several outstanding examples of nanocondensation. We conclude that protein nanocondensation cannot be fully explained by the conceptual framework of micron-scale biomolecular condensation. The evolution of nanocondensates through changes in density and order is currently under intense investigation, and this should lead to the development of a general theoretical framework, capable of encompassing the full range of sizes and densities found in protein condensates., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare no competing interests., (© International Union for Pure and Applied Biophysics (IUPAB) and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2023. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

To date, the treatment for cysticercosis and neurocysticercosis consists of a single oral intake of praziquantel (5-10 mg/kg), which since it is only available as tablets, hinders its administration to pediatric patients. Praziquantel is a poorly water-soluble drug which represents a challenge for its formulation in solution, particularly for the pediatric population. Thus, this study aimed to develop a palatable solution for praziquantel using pharmaceutical-accepted co-solvent systems. A design of experiments approach was applied to identify the optimal conditions for achieving a suitable amount of praziquantel in solution using co-solvent mixtures. Thus, praziquantel solubility increased from 0.38 up to 43.50 mg/mL in the optimized system. A taste masking assay in healthy human volunteers confirmed a successful reduction of drug bitterness after the addition of selected flavors and a sweetener. Stability studies were also conducted at different temperatures (4, 25, and 40 °C) for 12 months Even though the presence of the three known impurities of praziquantel was observed, their amounts never exceeded the acceptance criteria of the USP. Thus, this novel approach should be considered a valuable alternative for further preclinical studies considering the high prevalence of this infection worldwide.

In view of the strong anti-inflammatory activity of glucocorticoids (GC) they are used in the treatment of almost all inflammatory lung diseases. In particular, inhaled GC (IGC) allow high drug concentrations to be deposited in the lung and may reduce the incidence of adverse effects associated with systemic administration. However, rapid absorption through the highly absorbent surface of the lung epithelium may limit the success of localized therapy. Therefore, inhalation of GC incorporated into nanocarriers is a possible approach to overcome this drawback. In particular, lipid nanocarriers, which showed high pulmonary biocompatibility and are well known in the pharmaceutical industry, have the best prospects for pulmonary delivery of GC by inhalation. This review provides an overview of the pre-clinical applications of inhaled GC-lipid nanocarriers based on several key factors that will determine the efficiency of local pulmonary GC delivery: 1) stability to nebulization, 2) deposition profile in the lungs, 3) mucociliary clearance, 4) selective accumulation in target cells, 5) residence time in the lung and systemic absorption and 6) biocompatibility. Finally, novel preclinical pulmonary models for inflammatory lung diseases are also discussed., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Alpha hemolysin of Escherichia coli (HlyA) is a pore-forming protein, which is a prototype of the " R epeat in T o x ins" (RTX) family. It was demonstrated that HlyA-cholesterol interaction facilitates the insertion of the toxin into membranes. Putative cholesterol-binding sites, called cholesterol recognition/amino acid consensus (CRAC), and CARC (analogous to CRAC but with the opposite orientation) were identified in the HlyA sequence. In this context, two peptides were synthesized, one derived from a CARC site from the insertion domain of the toxin (residues 341-353) (PEP 1) and the other one from a CRAC site from the domain between the acylated lysines (residues 639-644) (PEP 2), to study their role in the interaction of HlyA with membranes. The interaction of peptides with membranes of different lipid compositions (pure POPC and POPC/Cho of 4:1 and 2:1 molar ratios) was analyzed by surface plasmon resonance and molecular dynamics simulations. Results demonstrate that both peptides interact preferentially with Cho-containing membranes, although PEP 2 presents a lower K D than PEP 1. Molecular dynamics simulation results indicate that the insertion and interaction of PEP 2 with Cho-containing membranes are more prominent than those caused by PEP 1. The hemolytic activity of HlyA in the presence of peptides indicates that PEP 2 was the only one that inhibits HlyA activity, interfering in the binding between the toxin and cholesterol.

The use of biopolymeric materials is restricted for some applications due to their deficient properties in comparison to synthetic polymers. Blending different biopolymers is an alternative approach to overcome these limitations. In this study, we developed new biopolymeric blend materials based on the entire biomasses of water kefir grains and yeast. Film-forming dispersions with varying ratios of water kefir to yeast (100/0, 75/25, 50/50 25/75 and 0/100) underwent ultrasonic homogenisation and thermal treatment, resulting in homogeneous dispersions with pseudoplastic behaviour and interaction between both biomasses. Films obtained by casting had a continuous microstructure without cracks or phase separation. Infrared spectroscopy revealed the interaction between the blend components, leading to a homogeneous matrix. As the water kefir content in the film increased, transparency, thermal stability, glass transition temperature and elongation at break also increased. The thermogravimetric analyses and the mechanical tests showed that the combination of water kefir and yeast biomasses resulted in stronger interpolymeric interactions compared to single biomass films. The ratio of the components did not drastically alter hydration and water transport. Our results revealed that blending water kefir grains and yeast biomasses enhanced thermal and mechanical properties. These studies provided evidence that the developed materials are suitable candidates for food packaging applications.

Decoration of nanoparticles with specific molecules such as antibodies, peptides, and proteins that preserve their biological properties is essential for the recognition and internalization of their specific target cells. Inefficient preparation of such decorated nanoparticles leads to nonspecific interactions diverting them from their desired target. We report a simple two-step procedure for the preparation of biohybrid nanoparticles containing a core of hydrophobic quantum dots coated with a multilayer of human serum albumin. These nanoparticles were prepared by ultra-sonication, crosslinked using glutaraldehyde, and decorated with proteins such as human serum albumin or human transferrin in their native conformations. These nanoparticles were homogeneous in size (20-30 nm), retained the fluorescent properties of quantum dots, and did not show a "corona effect" in the presence of serum. The uptake of transferrin-decorated quantum dot nanoparticles was observed in A549 lung cancer and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells but not in non-cancerous 16HB14o- or retinoic acid dopaminergic neurons differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. Furthermore, digitoxin-loaded transferrin-decorated nanoparticles decreased the number of A549 cells without effect on 16HB14o-. Finally, we analyzed the in vivo uptake of these biohybrids by murine retinal cells, demonstrating their capacity to selectively target and deliver into specific cell types with excellent traceability.

Baculoviruses are entomopathogens that carry large, double-stranded circular DNA genomes and infect insect larvae of Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera and Diptera, with applications in the biological control of agricultural pests, in the production of recombinant proteins and as viral vectors for various purposes in mammals. These viruses have a variable genetic composition that differs between species, with some sequences shared by all known members, and others that are lineage-specific or unique to isolates. Based on the analysis of nearly 300 sequenced genomes, a thorough bioinformatic investigation was conducted on all the baculoviral protein coding sequences, characterizing their orthology and phylogeny. This analysis confirmed the 38 protein coding sequences currently considered as core genes, while also identifying novel coding sequences as candidates to join this set. Accordingly, homology was found among all the major occlusion body proteins, thus proposing that the polyhedrin, granulin and CUN085 genes be considered as the 39th core gene of Baculoviridae .

The rhizoma peanut (Arachis glabrata Benth., section Rhizomatosae) is a tetraploid perennial legume. Although several A. glabrata cultivars have been developed as forage and ornamental turf, the origin and genomic constitution of this species are still unknown. In this study, we evaluated the affinity between the genomes of A. glabrata and the probable diploid donors of the sections Rhizomatosae, Arachis, Erectoides and Procumbentes by genomic in situ hybridization (GISH). Single GISH analyses detected that species of the sections Erectoides (E2 subgenome) and Procumbentes (E3 subgenome) were the diploid species with the highest degree of genomic affinity with A. glabrata. Based on single GISH experiments and DNA sequence similarity, three species -A. duranensis, A. paraguariensis subsp. capibarensis, and A. rigonii-, which showed the most uniform and brightest hybridization patterns and lowest genetic distance, were selected as probes for double GISH experiments. Double GISH experiments showed that A. glabrata is constituted by four identical or very similar chromosome complements. In these assays, A. paraguariensis subsp. capibarensis showed the highest brightness onto A. glabrata chromosomes. Thus, our results support the autopolyploid origin of A. glabrata and show that the species with E2 subgenome are the most probable ancestors of this polyploid legume forage.

Information on paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) in Argentina is fragmented and has historically been based on estimates, supported only by a series of a few reported cases. Considering the lack of global information, a national multicentric study in order to carry out a more comprehensive analysis was warranted. We present a data analysis including demographic and clinical aspects of a historical series of 466 cases recorded over 10 years (2012-2021). Patients were aged from 1 to 89 years. The general male: female (M:F) ratio was 9.5:1 with significant variation according to the age group. Interestingly, the age range 21-30 shows an M:F ratio of 2:1. Most of the cases (86%) were registered in northeast Argentina (NEA), showing hyperendemic areas in Chaco province with more than 2 cases per 10,000 inhabitants. The chronic clinical form occurred in 85.6% of cases and the acute/subacute form occurred in 14.4% of cases, but most of these juvenile type cases occurred in northwestern Argentina (NWA). In NEA, the incidence of the chronic form was 90.6%; in NWA, the acute/subacute form exceeded 37%. Diagnosis by microscopy showed 96% positivity but antibody detection displays 17% of false negatives. Tuberculosis was the most frequent comorbidity, but a diverse spectrum of bacterial, fungal, viral, parasitic, and other non-infectious comorbidities was recorded. This national multicenter registry was launched in order to better understand the current status of PCM in Argentina and shows the two endemic zones with a highly diverse epidemiology.

Archaea are microorganisms more closely related to eukaryotes than bacteria. Almost 50 years after being defined as a new domain of life on earth, new species continue to be discovered and their phylogeny organized. The study of the relationship between their genetics and metabolism and some of their extreme habitats has even positioned them as a model of extraterrestrial life forms. Archaea, however, are deeply connected to the life of our planet: they can be found in arid, acidic, warm areas; on most of the earth's surface, which is cold (below 5 °C), playing a prominent role in the cycles of organic materials on a global scale and they are even part of our microbiota. The constituent materials of these microorganisms differ radically from those produced by eukaryotes and bacteria, and the nanoparticles that can be manufactured using their ether lipids as building blocks exhibit unique properties that are of interest in nanomedicine. Here, we present for the first time a complete overview of the pre-clinical applications of nanomedicines based on ether archaea lipids, focused on drug delivery and adjuvancy over the last 25 years, along with a discussion on their pros, cons and their future industrial implementation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The development of visual sensors for traffic analysis can benefit from mimicking two fundamental aspects of the visual system of crabs: their panoramic vision and their visual processing strategy adapted to a flat world. First, the use of omnidirectional cameras in urban environments allows for analyzing the simultaneous movement of many objects of interest over broad areas. This would reduce the costs and complications associated with infrastructure: installation, synchronization, maintenance, and operation of traditional vision systems that use multiple cameras with a limited field of view. Second, in urban traffic analysis, the objects of interest (e.g. vehicles and pedestrians) move on the ground surface. This constraint allows the calculation of the 3D trajectory of the vehicles using a single camera without the need to use binocular vision techniques.The main contribution of this work is to show that the strategy used by crabs to visually analyze their habitat (monocular omnidirectional vision with the assumption of a flat world ) is useful for developing a simple and effective method to estimate the speed of vehicles on long trajectories in urban environments. It is shown that the proposed method estimates the speed with a root mean squared error of 2.7 km h -1 ., (© 2023 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

Biopreservation is an alternative to prevent the growth of pathogens and reduce microbial spoilage in food based on the use of microorganisms and/or their metabolic products. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal mode of application and the effectiveness of cell-free supernatant (CFS) from Lactobacillus curvatus ACU-1, containing sakacin G, in Vienna-type sausages to control Listeria and spoilage flora. The functionality and the optimal dosage form between CFS, producing bacteria, a combination or concentrate of bacteriocin applied on Vienna-type sausages before and after stuffing the casings on an industrial scale were determined. Sakacin G was effective for the control of Listeria applied to the casing both before and after stuffing. The application of the antimicrobial on the ready sausages inhibits both lactic acid bacteria and mesophilic microorganisms from zero sampling time. The heat resistance of the bacteriocin in the food was verified under industrial manufacturing conditions. The antimicrobial activity of sakacin G was maintained throughout the period studied in all the conditions tested. In conclusion, the application of CFS containing bacteriocin is useful given both before and after casing stuffing; but the application prior to the stuffing is more practical for the process of elaboration., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Applied Microbiology International.)

In the field of prokaryotic taxonomy, there has been a recent transition towards phylogenomics as the gold standard approach. However, genome-based phylogenetics is still restrictive for its cost when managing large amounts of isolates. Fast, cheap, and taxonomically competent alternatives, like multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) are thus recommendable. Nevertheless, the criteria for selecting the conserved genes for MLSA have not been explicit for different bacterial taxa, including the broadly diverse Pseudomonas genus. Here, we have carried out an unbiased and rational workflow to select internal sequence regions of Pseudomonas core genes (CG) for a MLSA with the best phylogenetic power, and with a resolution comparable to the genome-based ANI approach. A computational workflow was established to inspect 126 complete genomes of representatives from over 60 Pseudomonas species and subspecies, in order to identify the most informative CG internal regions and determine which combinations in sets of three partial CG sequences have comparable phylogenetic resolution to that of the current ANI standard. We found that the rpoD 346-1196 -pepN 1711-2571 -gltX 86-909 concatenated sequences were the best performing in terms of phylogenetic robustness and resulted highly sensitive and specific when contrasted with ANI. The rpoD-pepN-gltX MLSA was validated in silico and in vitro. Altogether, the results presented here supports the proposal of the rpoD-pepN-gltX MLSA as a fast, affordable, and robust phylogenetic tool for members of the Pseudomonas genus., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Organophosphorus pesticides bring significant improvements in agriculture, but their toxicity causes environmental and health negative impacts. The aim of this work was the development of robust biocatalysts to be applied in bioremediation. Four fungi were evaluated as hydrolase sources capable of degrading organophosphorus pesticides: Aspergillus niger, Fusarium sp., Penicillium chrysogenum, and Penicillium nalgiovense. The hydrolysis rates of methyl paraoxon obtained under acidic conditions were in the range of 10 to 21 mg L -1 d -1 , which is remarkable since most similar biocatalysts are active under alkaline conditions. Penicillium chrysogenum activity was outstanding, and it was selected to prepare, characterize, and study the applications of its enzymatic extract. It was used to evaluate the bioremediation of apple surfaces at pH 2 in the presence of SDS, achieving complete methyl paraoxon degradation under proposed conditions. These results indicate that this biocatalyst could complement industrialized fruit washing processes for the elimination of organophosphorus pesticides., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Using buffalo whey proteins as carrier agents of sensitive molecules raises an interesting approach allowing adding value and minimizing the pollution impact of this by-product. In this context, this work aims to explore the molecular interactions between buffalo whey proteins concentrate (BWPC) and folic acid (FA). For this purpose, fluorescence, UV and FTIR analysis were performed on aqueous or solid dispersions of a buffalo whey protein concentrate (5 μM) (BWPC), with variable concentrations (0-20 μM) of FA. Fluorescence and absorption data were fitted by Stern-Volmer, Beckett, Förster resonance energy transfer, and sphere-of-action models (R 2  > 0.9). Derived results suggest that BWPC strongly bind to FA through non-covalent interactions and form ground-state complexes. Additionally, BWPC improves the photostability of FA against UV radiation, and chemical denaturation negatively affects the binding properties. Obtained results encourage further studies of BWPC as carrier agents, which could promote innovative applications for this under-utilized proteins source., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this work, we have designed and generated a Fe(III)-binding protein with thiol oxidoreductase activity. The consensus iron-binding motif EExxED from the frataxin protein family was grafted on a model peptide and on the surface of thioredoxin (TRX) from E. coli . We investigated metal interactions with a family of peptides containing the motif EExxED or altered versions obtained by removing negatively charged residues: EExxEx, xExxED, and xExxEx. The interaction of the metal ion with the peptides was studied by circular dichroism, and our results indicated that the motif EExxED retained its functional properties and also that this motif is able to bind Ga(III) and Al(III). The interaction of the grafted TRX with iron(III) was investigated by NMR, showing that the motif was functional in the context of the protein structure, and also the binding of two equivalents of Fe(III) per TRX molecule was stable in a non-chelating neutral buffer. Protein conformation, stability, and enzymatic activity were studied by applying experimental and computational approaches. Interestingly, the thiol oxidoreductase activity was modulated by interaction with Ga(III), a Fe(III) mimetic ion. Furthermore, the design of functional proteins with both functions, oxidoreductase activity and metal-ion binding ability, should consider the reorganisation of the electrostatic network. Similarly, studying the crosstalk and electrostatic balance among different metal-binding sites may be critical.

Introduction: The use of online education strategies has been introduced as a tool to support health care in patients with rheumatic disease. However, it is important to consider the patient's sociocultural environment., Objective: To design and assessment of bilingual audiovisual material acceptability, by means of two social networks, for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the qom community in Argentina., Methods: A qualitative study was performed in two stages: (1) audiovisual material design, development, and validation implementing a collaborative action research method. (2) Publishing of the material on two social networks at two different times. The selected topic was the coronavirus disease 2019 impact on patients with RA. A qualitative and quantitative data analysis was performed., Results: Forty subjects participated into the initial validation stage with a 70% acceptance rate. First, 28 subjects (70%) participated on Facebook and 25 (62.5%) joined the WhatsApp group. Then, the same number of subjects participated on Facebook, while only 45% of subjects participated on WhatsApp. Most of them participated using short phrases such as "I like it." The 60% of the participants played the videos. However, less than 10% shared them. Videos in Spanish were the once most shared. Participation dramatically fell during the second time, and 40% of the WhatsApp subjects never participated., Conclusion: The strategies developed for this indigenous community were of no utility, probably because of socio-cultural, economic, and digital barriers. They should be designed and implemented identifying the target group and its environment. Key Points • Online education strategies should be designed with cultural sensitivity. • Technological barriers make digital inequality visible in vulnerable groups. • Educational interventions should have a collaborative design and they should be created together with the communities. • The COVID-19 pandemic has deepened inequalities in the health care and follow-up of patients with rheumatic diseases, especially between most socially and economically disadvantaged groups., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR).)

The biogeography of bacterial communities is a key topic in Microbial Ecology. Regarding continental water, most studies are carried out in the northern hemisphere, leaving a gap on microorganism's diversity patterns on a global scale. South America harbours approximately one third of the world's total freshwater resources, and is one of these understudied regions. To fill this gap, we compiled 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing data of microbial communities across South America continental water ecosystems, presenting the first database µSudAqua[db]. The database contains over 866 georeferenced samples from 9 different ecoregions with contextual environmental information. For its integration and validation we constructed a curated database (µSudAqua[db.sp]) using samples sequenced by Illumina MiSeq platform with commonly used prokaryote universal primers. This comprised ~60% of the total georeferenced samples of the µSudAqua[db]. This compilation was carried out in the scope of the µSudAqua collaborative network and represents one of the most complete databases of continental water microbial communities from South America., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background and Aims: Atripliceae evolved and diversified by dispersals and radiations across continents in both hemispheres, colonizing similar semi-arid, saline-alkaline environments throughout the world. Meanwhile, its species developed different life forms, photosynthetic pathways, mono- or dioecy, and different morphological features in flowers, fruiting bracteoles and seeds. In this study, we introduce a first approach to the macroevolutionary patterns and diversification dynamics of the Atripliceae to understand how time, traits, speciation, extinction and new habitats influenced the evolution of this lineage., Methods: We performed molecular phylogenetic analyses and clade age estimation of Atripliceae to apply time-, trait- and geographic-dependent diversification analyses and ancestral state reconstructions to explore diversification patterns within the tribe., Key Results: Opposite diversification dynamics within the two major clades of Atripliceae, the Archiatriplex and Atriplex clades, could explain the unbalanced species richness between them; we found low mean speciation rates in the Archiatriplex clade and one shift to higher speciation rates placed in the branch of the Atriplex core. This acceleration in diversification seems to have started before the transition between C3 and C4 metabolism and before the arrival of Atriplex in the Americas, and matches the Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum. Besides, the American species of Atriplex exhibit slightly higher net diversification rates than the Australian and Eurasian ones. While time seems not to be associated with diversification, traits such as life form, photosynthetic pathway and plant sex may have played roles as diversification drivers., Conclusions: Traits more than time played a key role in Atripliceae diversification, and we could speculate that climate changes could have triggered speciation. The extreme arid or saline environments where Atripliceae species prevail may explain its particular evolutionary trends and trait correlations compared with other angiosperms and highlight the importance of conservation efforts needed to preserve them as genetic resources to deal with climatic changes., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Introduction: The use of visual tools to calculate the adequate portion of the infant's food with an adequate education would allow to provide correct, simple and clear information to those responsible for their feeding. The objective was to design a manual and photographic atlas on complementary feeding (CF) for children between 6-12 months of age, to be used as a tool in food and nutrition education. Methods:, Methods: The instrument was divided into two sections: a manual that includes advice on CF, and another corresponding to the food atlas, adapted to children aged 6 to 12 months. Content validity was performed by expert judgment, and the degree of agreement was measured using the Interclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC)., Results: The designed tool includes 47 foods, 323 photographs and 6 chapters, where key concepts were developed, feeding in the sick child, measurements and capacities of the utensils used, images accompanied with recommendations for food and nutritional education about consistency, frequency, quantity, progression in the incorporation of food, safety, recipes and menu ideas according to age. The atlas was divided into food groups, subdivided into raw and cooked foods, and in different presentations: puree, pieces and whole. The content validation showed a high percentage of general acceptance (85.86%) and reported a 95% ICC of 0.884 (0.712-0.973)., Conclusion: The designed tool is very useful for carrying out nutrition counseling and education interventions for children of the age of starting their CF., (Universidad Nacional de Córdoba.)

Promiscuous activities have been related to the capacity to catalyze reactions different from those a protein has evolved to sustain. In this work, we rethought the serum albumin's promiscuous behavior using evolutionary and structural analysis. We found that the cross aldol condensation of acetone and p-formylbenzonitrile is a promiscuous reaction conserved in humans serum albumin and in closely related albumins from other mammals. Evolutionary analysis indicates that the residues involved in this promiscuous reaction are evolving under positive selection, an evolutionary pattern indicating a putative functional adaptation. Also, key residues are located in an evolutionary conserved cavity connected with the protein surface with an also conserved tunnel and mutations involving these residues are described in human diseases. Overall, our results suggest that albumin could have evolved to sustain a still unknown biological function among the many others it maintains. Our results could contribute to better characterize the serum albumin family and raise questions about the evolution of protein promiscuity and function., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We the authors declare that this manuscript is original, has not been published before, and is not currently being considered for publication elsewhere. We confirm that all the authors have participated in conception and design, or analysis and interpretation of the data; drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content, and approval of the final version. We further confirm we have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. and Société Française de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire (SFBBM). All rights reserved.)

This work is focused on the multilevel control of the population confinement in the city of Buenos Aires and its surroundings due to the pandemic generated by the COVID-19 outbreak. The model used here is known as SEIRD and two objectives are sought: a time-varying identification of the infection rate and the inclusion of a controller. A control differential equation has been added to regulate the transitions between confinement and normal life, according to five different levels. The plasma treatment from recovered patients has also been considered in the control algorithm. Using the proposed strategy the ICU occupancy is reduced, and as a consequence, the number of deaths is also decreased., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Intracranial hypertension (HI) is associated with worse neurological outcomes and higher mortality. Although there are several experimental models of HI, in this article we present a reproducible, reversible, and reliable model of intracranial hypertension, with continuous multimodal monitoring., New Method: A reversible intracranial hypertension model in swine with multimodal monitoring including intracranial pressure, arterial blood pressure, heart rate variation, brain tissue oxygenation, and electroencephalogram is developed to understand the relationship of ICP and EEG. By inflating and deflating a balloon, located 20 mm anterior to the coronal suture and a 15 mm sagittal suture, we generate intracranial hypertension events and simultaneously measure intracranial pressure and oxygenation in the contralateral hemisphere and the EEG, simulating the usual configuration in humans., Results: We completed 5 experiments and in all of them, we were able to complete at least 6 events of intracranial hypertension in a stable and safe way. For events of 20-40 mmHg of ICP we need an median (IQR) of 4.2 (3.64) ml of saline solution into the Foley balloon, a median (IQR) infusion time of 226 (185) second in each event and for events of 40-50 mmHg of ICP we need a median (IQR) of 5.1 (4.66) ml of saline solution, a median (IQR) infusion time of 280 (48) seconds and a median (IQR). The median (IQR) maintenance time was 352 (77) seconds and 392 (166) seconds for 20-40 mmHg and 40-50 mmHg of ICP, respectively., Comparison With Existing Method(s): Existing methods do not include EEG measures and do not present the reversibility of intracranial hypertension., Conclusions: Our model is fully reproducible, it is capable of generating reversible focal intracranial hypertension through strict control of the injected volume, it is possible to generate different infusion rates of the volume in the balloon, in order to generate different scenarios, the data obtained are sufficient to determine the brain complacency in real time. and useful for understanding the pathophysiology of ICP and the relationship between ICP (CPP) and EEG., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The symbiotic community of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) of Kombucha beverage produces a floating film composed of bacterial cellulose, a distinctive biobased material. In this work, Kombucha fermentation was carried out in six different herbal infusions, where SCOBY was able to synthesise cellulosic films. Infusions of black and green tea, yerba mate, lavender, oregano and fennel added with sucrose (100 g/l) were used as culture media. In all cultures, film production resulted in a maximum after 21 days. Yield conversion, process productivity and antioxidant activity were quantified. Macroscopic and microscopic features of films were determined based on electronic microscopy, calorimetric and mechanical properties and hydration behaviour. Native films from yerba mate had a remarkable antioxidant activity of 93 ± 4% of radical inhibition due to plant polyphenols, which could prevent food oxidation. Results revealed that films retained natural bioactive substances preserving important physicochemical properties, essential for developing active materials., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Studies under constant temperatures are the most common to estimate the Postmortem Interval (PMI). It is imperative that forensic sciences have data from studies carried out in the field. Therefore, this work aims to: (1) evaluate the parameters (weight, length, development time) associated with the life cycles of Lucilia ochricornis (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and Lucilia purpurascens (Walker) under experimental conditions in the field considering fluctuating temperatures, and (2) compare these results with those known and published by the same authors for cultures realized in the laboratory under constant temperatures; which will permit us to contrast the most widely used existing methodologies for forensic application in estimating the minimum postmortem interval (PMImin). For each season of the year, cultures of both species were made in the field, collecting information on temperature, humidity, and photoperiod to perform laboratory cultures, later comparing: development time, length, weight, and Accumulated Degree-Hours (ADH) in both types of cultures. Methods for estimating the PMI were obtained and validated with the information of the cultures grown in the field. The two types of cultures showed differences between each other for both species. The forensic use methods to estimate PMI were enhanced and their precision increased when maximum larval length data were used, and it was also concluded that feeding larval stages are the most accurate to be used in making estimates because the larva is growing. The estimation of the PMI through the use of necrophagous flies development remains reliable for obtaining the PMImin., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Winemaking is a complex process involving two successive fermentations: alcoholic fermentation, by yeasts, and malolactic fermentation (MLF), by lactic acid bacteria (LAB). During MLF, LAB can contribute positively to wine flavor through decarboxylation of malic acid with acidity reduction and other numerous enzymatic reactions. However, some microorganisms can have a negative impact on the quality of the wine through processes such as biogenic amine production. For these reasons, monitoring the bacterial community profiles during MLF can predict and control the quality of the final product. In addition, the selection of LAB from a wine-producing area is necessary for the formulation of native malolactic starter cultures well adapted to local winemaking practices and able to enhance the regional wine typicality. In this sense, molecular biology techniques are fundamental tools to decipher the native microbiome involved in MLF and to select bacterial strains with potential to function as starter cultures, given their enological and technological characteristics. In this context, this work reviews the different molecular tools (both culture-dependent and -independent) that can be applied to the study of MLF, either in bacterial isolates or in the microbial community of wine, and of its dynamics during the process., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

We have previously synthesized and characterized the chrysin coordination complex with the oxidovanadium(IV) cation (V IV O(chrys) 2 ) and characterized in ethanolic solution and in solid state. Because suitable single crystals for X-ray diffraction determinations could not be obtained, in the present work, we elucidate the geometrical parameters of this complex by computational methodologies. The optimization and vibrational investigation were carried out both in ethanolic solution and in gas phase. The computational results support the experimentally proposed geometries of the V IV O(chrys) 2 complex, thus leading to the conclusion that the complex exists as conformers with trans-octahedral geometry in ethanolic solution and as conformers with cis-octahedral geometry in the solid state. The complex also exists as conformers with trans-octahedral geometry in aqueous media. The active species formed after dissolution in DMSO showed anticancer and antimetastatic behavior in human lung cell line A549 with moderate binding (K a ca. 10 5 M -1 ) to bovine serum albumin (BSA). The interaction through hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces resulted in a spontaneous process. Site marker competitive experiments showed binding sites for chrysin mainly located in site II (subdomain IIIA) and in site I (subdomain IIIA) for the complex. FT-IR spectral measurements showed evidences of the alterations of protein secondary structure in the presence of chrysin and V IV O(chrys) 2 ., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Baculoviruses are insect pathogens that are characterized by assembling the viral dsDNA into two different enveloped virions during an infective cycle: occluded virions (ODVs; immersed in a protein matrix known as occlusion body) and budded virions (BVs). ODVs are responsible for the primary infection in midgut cells of susceptible larvae thanks to the per os infectivity factor (PIF) complex, composed of at least nine essential viral proteins. Among them, P74 is a crucial factor whose activity has been identified as virus-specific. In this work, the p74 gene from AcMNPV was pseudogenized using CRISPR/Cas9 technology and then complemented with wild-type alleles from SeMNPV and HearSNPV species, as well as chimeras combining the P74 amino and carboxyl domains. The results on Spodoptera exigua and Rachiplusia nu larvae showed that an amino terminal sector of P74 (lacking two potential transmembrane regions but possessing a putative nuclear export signal) is sufficient to restore the virus infectivity whether alone or fused to the P74 transmembrane regions of the other evaluated viral species. These results provide novel information about the functional role of P74 and delimit the region on which mutagenesis could be applied to enhance viral activity and, thus, produce better biopesticides.