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Abstract A genomic database of all Earth’s eukaryotic species could contribute to many scientific discoveries; however, only a tiny fraction of species have genomic information available. In 2018, scientists across the world united under the Earth BioGenome Project (EBP), aiming to produce a database of high-quality reference genomes containing all ~1.5 million recognized eukaryotic species. As the European node of the EBP, the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) sought to implement a new decentralised, equitable and inclusive model for producing reference genomes. For this, ERGA launched a Pilot Project establishing the first distributed reference genome production infrastructure and testing it on 98 eukaryotic species from 33 European countries. Here we outline the infrastructure and explore its effectiveness for scaling high-quality reference genome production, whilst considering equity and inclusion. The outcomes and lessons learned provide a solid foundation for ERGA while offering key learnings to other transnational, national genomic resource projects and the EBP.

Abstract The deep-sea remains the biggest challenge to biodiversity exploration, and anthropogenic disturbances extend well into this realm, calling for urgent management strategies. One of the most diverse, productive, and vulnerable ecosystems in the deep sea are sponge grounds. Currently, environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is revolutionising the field of biodiversity monitoring, yet complex deep-sea benthic ecosystems remain challenging to assess even with these novel technologies. Here, we evaluate the effectiveness of whole-community metabarcoding to characterise metazoan diversity in sponge grounds across the North Atlantic by leveraging the natural eDNA sampling properties of deep-sea sponges themselves. We sampled 97 sponge tissues from four species across four North-Atlantic biogeographic regions in the deep sea and screened them using the universal COI barcode region. We recovered unprecedented levels of taxonomic diversity per unit effort, especially across the phyla Chordata, Cnidaria, Echinodermata and Porifera, with at least 406 metazoan species found in our study area. These assemblages identify strong spatial patterns in relation to both latitude and depth, and detect emblematic species currently employed as indicators for these vulnerable habitats. The remarkable performance of this approach in different species of sponges, in different biogeographic regions and across the whole animal kingdom, illustrates the vast potential of natural samplers as high-resolution biomonitoring solutions for highly diverse and vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems.

Almost two decades before Kanner's and Asperger's works, the original paper by child psychiatrist Grunya Efimovna Sukhareva had already been written. It was published in 1926 by Sukhareva in a German scientific journal of psychiatry and neurology, with a detailed description of children who presented clinical conditions whose characteristics and evolution closely resemble autism, according to current criteria. In the present historical note, we intend to present Sukhareva's pioneering work and retrieve the meaning of her original contribution.

Abstract Background Despite multiple recommendations and strategies implemented at a national and international level, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and cannabis use during pregnancy remains high in most countries. The objective of this study was to examine key stakeholders’ perception of the treatment interventions adopted in Spain, to identify political, organizational and personal factors associated with successful implementation, and to propose strategies for improvement. Methods A qualitative study with a phenomenological approach was conducted in 2022. The target groups were: (1) clinical decision makers in the field of addiction science, (2) health professionals who carry out treatment interventions, and (3) pregnant individuals who use tobacco, alcohol or cannabis. Two focus groups and eight in-depth interviews were conducted, recorded, and transcribed. Exploratory analysis and inductive open coding was performed, codes were merged into categories, and subcategories were identified. Results The analysis resulted in 10 subcategories which were further merged into three main categories: (1) Degree of adoption and utility of treatment interventions implemented; (2) Needs and demands with respect to the organization of treatment interventions; and, (3) Personal barriers to and facilitators for treatment. Respondents reported that despite multiple national and regional cessation initiatives, treatment interventions were rarely adopted in clinical practice. Health care administrators demanded reliable records to quantify substance use for better planning of activities. Health care professionals advocated for additional time and training and both echoed the importance of integrating cessation interventions into routine prenatal care and creating in-house specialized units. The difficulty in quitting, lack of awareness of risk for foetus and child and the controversial advice were identified as barriers by pregnant individuals. Conclusions Consistent with previous work, this study found that cessation strategies implemented by the health authorities are not effective if they are not accompanied by organizational and behavioral changes. The current study identifies a set of factors that could be pivotal in ensuring the success of treatment interventions targeting tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use among pregnant individuals.

Abstract Background Poriferans (sponges) are highly adaptable organisms that can thrive in diverse marine and freshwater environments due, in part, to their close associations with internal microbial communities. This sponge microbiome can be acquired from the surrounding environment (horizontal acquisition) or obtained from the parents during the reproductive process through a variety of mechanisms (vertical transfer), typically resulting in the presence of symbiotic microbes throughout all stages of sponge development. How and to what extent the different components of the microbiome are transferred to the developmental stages remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the microbiome composition of a common, low-microbial-abundance, Atlantic-Mediterranean sponge, Crambe crambe, throughout its ontogeny, including adult individuals, brooded larvae, lecithotrophic free-swimming larvae, newly settled juveniles still lacking osculum, and juveniles with a functional osculum for filter feeding. Results Using 16S rRNA gene analysis, we detected distinct microbiome compositions in each ontogenetic stage, with variations in composition, relative abundance, and diversity of microbial species. However, a particular dominant symbiont, Candidatus Beroebacter blanensis, previously described as the main symbiont of C. crambe, consistently occurred throughout all stages, an omnipresence that suggests vertical transmission from parents to offspring. This symbiont fluctuated in relative abundance across developmental stages, with pronounced prevalence in lecithotrophic stages. A major shift in microbial composition occurred as new settlers completed osculum formation and acquired filter-feeding capacity. Candidatus Beroebacter blanensis decreased significatively at this point. Microbial diversity peaked in filter-feeding stages, contrasting with the lower diversity of lecithotrophic stages. Furthermore, individual specific transmission patterns were detected, with greater microbial similarity between larvae and their respective parents compared to non-parental conspecifics. Conclusions These findings suggest a putative vertical transmission of the dominant symbiont, which could provide some metabolic advantage to non-filtering developmental stages of C. crambe. The increase in microbiome diversity with the onset of filter-feeding stages likely reflects enhanced interaction with environmental microbes, facilitating horizontal transmission. Conversely, lower microbiome diversity in lecithotrophic stages, prior to filter feeding, suggests incomplete symbiont transfer or potential symbiont digestion. This research provides novel information on the dynamics of the microbiome through sponge ontogeny, on the strategies for symbiont acquisition at each ontogenetic stage, and on the potential importance of symbionts during larval development.

RESUMO Objetivo Propor valores de normatização da plataforma de posturografia computadorizada Horus®, em crianças de 4 a 6 anos, sem queixas auditivas e/ou vestibulares. Método Estudo transversal. Participaram 216 crianças na faixa etária de 4 a 6 anos. Todas realizaram triagem visual, avaliação auditiva e posturografia computadorizada composta por pesquisa do limite de estabilidade e sete condições sensoriais. Analisaram-se os resultados estatisticamente por testes não paramétrico Kruskal-Walli, post hoc Dunn-Bonferroni para comparações par-a-par nas idades e U de Mann-Whitney para análise entre sexo. Os dados categóricos foram apresentados em frequência relativa e os dados quantitativos pela média e desvio padrão. Resultados Foram descritos valores de normatização para o limite de estabilidade e para as sete condições sensoriais. Houve diferença para o limite de estabilidade entre sexos aos 4 anos (p

El texto que se presenta a continuación surge en respuesta a la iniciativa de intentar explicar, desde una perspectiva personal, alguno de los aspectos importantes que influyen el proceso de producción de una tesis doctoral. Sirviéndome del genero de la autoetnografía para su redacción, se explican algunos de los cambios experimentados, tanto a nivel personal como desde un punto de vista conceptual, a lo largo del propio transcurso de la investigación que da lugar en último término a la tesis doctoral. Esto se hace desde la mirada privilegiada que otorga el paso del tiempo, así como el cumplimiento de alguno de los objetivos que inicialmente ni siquiera se contemplaban como factibles. Aunque no se mencionan con nombre y apellidos, este es un proceso en el que influyen una gran cantidad de personas, desde profesores y profesoras que son también amigos y amigas en la actualidad, hasta compañeros y compañeras de las que se va aprendiendo por el camino, además de los apoyos de fuera de la academia que resultan fundamentales. Es por ello por lo que se puede considerar que la tesis es un proceso social que se encarna de manera puntual en la persona que la firma. Un poco de todo esto es lo que se trata de explicar en las siguientes líneas.

The European Commission new regulatory proposals on new genome-edited plants and on plant reproductive material are set to revolutionize plant breeding and agriculture in the EU. This short communication analyzes the main features of such proposals with respect to the current regulatory frameworks in the EU, and discusses their foreseeable impact on European plant breeding innovation and agriculture. While there is no denying the potential advantages that the proposal on new genome-edited plants might bring, the proposed regulation is also complex and ambiguous, a matter already acknowledged by the specialized literature, and about which even some of the strongest advocates of the proposed regulation appear to show a certain degree of concern. If this is not corrected, the successful implementation of the proposal could be compromised. The proposal on plant reproductive material threatens to create new and probably unnecessary burdens for European plant breeders, farmers, and end consumers. Addressing the identified issues in the proposal on genome-edited plants, and drafting a new proposal on plant reproductive material aiming at reducing inefficiencies is suggested. Received: 21.12.2023 Accepted: 10.05.2024

Abstract Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, decentralised clinical trials incorporated self-monitoring, self-reporting, and telenursing tools to address health literacy and health empowerment of patients enrolled in clinical trials. We aimed to determine the impact of an educational intervention using telenursing consultations on health literacy, health empowerment, and health-related quality of life in cancer patients enrolled in clinical trials by measuring the level of satisfaction with the care received and assessing the views of healthcare professionals concerning the advanced practice nurse (APN) role in oncology clinical trials. Methods In this pilot analytical, descriptive, longitudinal, quasi-experimental, and pre-post test study, an educational intervention was conducted by 5 visits with an APN using synchronous teleconsultation in patients starting cancer treatment for the first time in a clinical trial (n = 60), and health professionals working with the APN (n = 31). A descriptive analysis of the samples and questionnaires were utilised along with statistical comparisons. Results After the intervention, patients' health literacy (31.7%), health empowerment (18.3%), and health-related quality of life (33.3%) increased (p

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social interaction deficits and repetitive/stereotyped behaviors. Its prevalence is increasing, affecting one in 36 children in the United States. The valproic acid (VPA) induced animal model of ASD is a reliable method for investigating cellular, molecular, and behavioral aspects related to the disorder. Trans-Resveratrol (RSV), a polyphenol with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects studied in various diseases, has recently demonstrated the ability to prevent cellular, molecular, sensory, and social deficits in the VPA model. In this study, we examined the effects of prenatal exposure to VPA and the potential preventive effects of RSV on the offspring. Method: We monitored gestational weight from embryonic day 6.5 until 18.5 and assessed the onset of developmental milestones and morphometric parameters in litters. The generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to analyze longitudinal data. Results: Exposure to VPA during rat pregnancy resulted in abnormal weight gain fold-changes on embryonic days 13.5 and 18.5, followed by fewer animals per litter. Additionally, we discovered a positive correlation between weight variation during E15.5-E18.5 and the number of rat pups in the VPA group. Conclusion: VPA exposure led to slight length deficiencies and delays in the onset of developmental milestones. Interestingly, the prenatal RSV treatment not only prevented most of these delays but also led to the early onset of certain milestones and improved morphometric characteristics in the offspring. In summary, our findings suggest that RSV may have potential as a therapeutic intervention to protect against the negative effects of prenatal VPA exposure, highlighting its importance in future studies of prenatal neurodevelopmental disorders.

Background We evaluated the potential benefits of renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) in patients with left ventricular assist device support. Methods and Results A total of 165 consecutive patients undergoing left ventricular assist device implant and alive at 6‐month on support were studied. RAASi status after 6‐month visit along with clinical reasons for nonprescription/uptitration were retrospectively assessed. The primary outcome was a composite of heart failure hospitalization or cardiovascular death between 6 and 24 months after left ventricular assist device implant. Remodeling and hemodynamic outcomes were explored by studying the association of RAASi new prescription/uptitration versus unmodified therapy at 6‐month visit with the change in echocardiographic parameters and hemodynamics between 6 and 18 months. After the 6‐month visit, 76% of patients were on RAASi. Patients' characteristics among those receiving and not receiving RAASi were mostly similar. Of 85 (52%) patients without RAASi new prescription/uptitration at 6‐month visit, 62% had no apparent clinical reason. RAASi were independently associated with the primary outcome (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.31 [95% CI, 0.16–0.69]). The baseline rates of optimal echocardiographic profile (neutral interventricular septum, mitral regurgitation less than mild, and aortic valve opening) and hemodynamic profile (cardiac index ≥2.2 L/min per m2, wedge pressure

Este artículo describe y analiza las estrategias empleadas para introducir Uber en España. Se emplea el concepto de entramado sociotécnico poniendo de manifiesto la interacción de múltiples factores para lograr la estabilización del modelo. Entre ellos es relevante el papel jugado por la tecnología, pero este concepto nos sirve para considerar la importancia de otras cuestiones o las diferentes dimensiones que encierra su uso. Concretamente, se describen las adaptaciones respecto al diseño original que tuvo que realizar el modelo Uber para lograr operar en España, poniendo atención a la situación de mercado que se estableció y su influencia sobre las condiciones de trabajo de su fuerza laboral. Se considera como un rasgo característico del modelo la hiperflexibilidad, circunstancia previamente existente en el mercado de trabajo español, pero que es aprovechada y expandida por medio del empleo de los algoritmos aplicados a la gestión del trabajo. Esto supone un incremento aún mayor de dicha hiperflexibilidad descrita en el texto. Los datos empleados para el análisis proceden de un prolongado trabajo de campo. Este material es combinado con la información procedente de fuentes secundarias, principalmente prensa económica, sentencias judiciales y los datos proporcionados por el Ministerio de Transportes Movilidad y Agenda Urbana español. La principal aportación de este trabajo reside en que da cuenta de parte de un trabajo con un nivel de extensión y profundidad inédito para el caso español. This article describes and analyzes the strategies used to introduce Uber in Spain. The concept of sociotechnical framework is used, highlighting the interaction of multiple factors to achieve the stabilization of the model. Among them, the role played by technology is relevant, but this concept helps us to consider the importance of other issues or the different dimensions involved in its use. Specifically, we describe the adaptations with respect to the original design that the Uber model had to make in order to operate in Spain, paying attention to the market situation that was established and its influence on the working conditions of its workforce. A characteristic feature of the model is considered to be hyper-flexibility, a circumstance previously existing in the Spanish labor market, but which is exploited and expanded through the use of algorithms applied to labor management. This implies an even greater increase in the hyperflexibility described in the text. The data used for the analysis come from extensive fieldwork. This material is combined with information from secondary sources, mainly the economic press, court rulings and data provided by the Spanish Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda. The main contribution of this work lies in the fact that it reports part of a work with an unprecedented level of extension and depth for the Spanish case.

Abstract Background Explaining the emergence of the hallmarks of bilaterians is a central focus of evolutionary developmental biology—evodevo—and evolutionary genomics. For this purpose, we must both expand and also refine our knowledge of non-bilaterian genomes, especially by studying early branching animals, in particular those in the metazoan phylum Porifera. Results We present a comprehensive analysis of the first whole genome of a glass sponge, Oopsacas minuta, a member of the Hexactinellida. Studying this class of sponge is evolutionary relevant because it differs from the three other Porifera classes in terms of development, tissue organization, ecology, and physiology. Although O. minuta does not exhibit drastic body simplifications, its genome is among the smallest of animal genomes sequenced so far, and surprisingly lacks several metazoan core genes (including Wnt and several key transcription factors). Our study also provides the complete genome of a symbiotic Archaea dominating the associated microbial community: a new Thaumarchaeota species. Conclusions The genome of the glass sponge O. minuta differs from all other available sponge genomes by its compactness and smaller number of encoded proteins. The unexpected loss of numerous genes previously considered ancestral and pivotal for metazoan morphogenetic processes most likely reflects the peculiar syncytial tissue organization in this group. Our work further documents the importance of convergence during animal evolution, with multiple convergent evolution of septate-like junctions, electrical-signaling and multiciliated cells in metazoans.

IntroductionMany coral reefs witness an ongoing coral-to-algae phase shift. Corals and algae release large quantities of (in)organic nutrients daily, of which a large part is utilized by sponges. In turn, sponges are important cyclers of precious resources to other inhabitants on reefs residing in oligotrophic waters. Here, we investigated whether sponge holobionts (i.e., host and prokaryotic symbionts) adapt their physiology to food released by coral- versus macroalgae.MethodsThereto, two sponge species, Plakortis angulospiculatus and Halisarca caerulea (high and low microbial abundance, respectively), were continuously exposed for 12 days to coral and macroalgal exudates in running seawater aquaria. Transcript expression of host and prokaryotic symbionts, changes in prokaryotic community composition, and holobiont physiological responses (i.e., respiratory demand, fluxes of carbon and nitrogen) were investigated after coral- versus macroalgae dominated treatments and compared to a seawater only control treatment.ResultsIn both sponge holobionts differential transcript expression between the coral and macroalgae treatments was very low (

Abstract Invited for this issue's Front Cover is the groups of Grey and Wright. The cover picture shows the chemical structure of sodium tetrakis(hexafluoroisopropyloxy)aluminate, with the sodium ion in the beach ball and the aluminate anion floating in a pool. The cover art uses a pool theme as the sodium aluminate salt synthesised in this work is a room‐temperature ionic liquid, thus the sodium salt in the pool represents this. The application of the salt in a sodium‐ion battery is shown in the cover design with the diving board acting as a battery, which can be seen by the positive and negative signs. Cover design by Demelza Lee. Read the full text of the Research Article at 10.1002/celc.202300381.

Abstract Marine sponges have recently been recognized as natural samplers of environmental DNA (eDNA) due to their effective water filtration and their ubiquitous, sessile, and regenerative nature. However, laboratory workflows for metabarcoding of sponge tissue have not been optimized to ensure that these natural samplers achieve their full potential for community survey. We used a phased approach to investigate the influence of DNA isolation procedures on the biodiversity information recovered from sponges. In Phase 1, we compared three treatments of residual ethanol preservative in sponge tissue alongside five DNA extraction protocols. The results of Phase 1 informed which ethanol treatment and DNA extraction protocol should be used in Phase 2, where we assessed the effect of starting tissue mass on extraction success and whether homogenization of sponge tissue is required. Phase 1 results indicated that ethanol preservative may contain unique and/or additional biodiversity information to that present in sponge tissue, but blotting tissue dry generally recovered more taxa and generated more sequence reads from the wild sponge species. Tissue extraction protocols performed best in terms of DNA concentration, taxon richness, and proportional read counts, but the non‐commercial tissue protocol was selected for Phase 2 due to cost‐efficiency and greater recovery of target taxa. In Phase 2 overall, we found that homogenization may not be required for sponge tissue and more starting material does not necessarily improve taxon detection. These results combined provide an optimized DNA isolation procedure for sponges to enhance marine biodiversity assessment using natural sampler DNA metabarcoding.

In this work, we highlight three different techniques for automatically constructing the dataset for a time-series study: the direct multi-step, the recursive multi-step, and the direct–recursive hybrid scheme. The nonlinear autoregressive with exogenous variable support vector regression (NARX SVR) and the Gaussian process regression (GPR), combined with the differential evolution (DE) for parameter tuning, are the two novel hybrid methods used in this study. The hyper-parameter settings used in the GPR and SVR training processes as part of this optimization technique DE significantly affect how accurate the regression is. The accuracy in the prediction of DE/GPR and DE/SVR, with or without NARX, is examined in this article using data on spot gold prices from the New York Commodities Exchange (COMEX) that have been made publicly available. According to RMSE statistics, the numerical results obtained demonstrate that NARX DE/SVR achieved the best results.

Abstract Aims We present a single‐centre retrospective experience using oral milrinone in patients with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and concurrent refractory right ventricular failure. Methods and results All patients implanted with LVAD between January 2013 and July 2021 from a high‐volume advanced heart failure service were reviewed. Eight patients were initiated on oral milrinone during this period. Oral milrinone was started 1.5 [inter‐quartile range (IQR) 1–2.3] years after LVAD implantation and continued for 1.2 (IQR 0.5–2.8) years. Therapeutic milrinone levels were achieved (232.2 ± 153.4 ng/mL) with 62.4 ± 18% of time within the therapeutic range. Two patients had adverse events (non‐sustained ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation effectively treated by internal cardioverter defibrillator) but did not require milrinone discontinuation. Four deaths occurred, one after transplant and three from disease progression determined to be unrelated to oral milrinone use. Three patients continue oral milrinone therapy in the community. There was no significant difference found after the initiation of oral milrinone on any of the physiological measures; however, there were trends in reduction of New York Heart Association class from 3.4 ± 0.5 to 3.0 ± 0.8 (P = 0.08), reduction of right atrial/wedge pressure from 0.9 ± 0.3 to 0.5 ± 0.2 (P = 0.08), and improvement of right ventricular stroke work index from 3.8 ± 2 to 5.8 ± 2.7 (P = 0.16). Conclusions Oral milrinone appears safe for long‐term use in the outpatient setting when combined with therapeutic monitoring in this complex medical cohort with limited management options. Further study is needed to ascertain whether this treatment is effective in reducing heart failure symptoms and admissions.

Abstract Sponges are interesting animal models for regeneration studies, since even from dissociated cells, they are able to regenerate completely. In particular, explants are model systems that can be applied to many sponge species, since small fragments of sponges can regenerate all elements of the adult, including the oscula and the ability to pump water. The morphological aspects of regeneration in sponges are relatively well known, but the molecular machinery is only now starting to be elucidated for some sponge species. Here, we have used an explant system of the demosponge Halichondria panicea to understand the molecular machinery deployed during regeneration of the aquiferous system. We sequenced the transcriptomes of four replicates of the 5–day explant without an osculum (NOE), four replicates of the 17–18–day explant with a single osculum and pumping activity (PE) and also four replicates of field–collected individuals with regular pumping activity (PA), and performed differential gene expression analysis. We also described the morphology of NOE and PE samples using light and electron microscopy. Our results showed a highly disorganised mesohyl and disarranged aquiferous system in NOE that is coupled with upregulated pathways of ciliogenesis, organisation of the ECM, and cell proliferation and survival. Once the osculum is formed, genes involved in “response to stimulus in other organisms” were upregulated. Interestingly, the main molecular machinery of vasculogenesis described in vertebrates was activated during the regeneration of the aquiferous system. Notably, vasculogenesis markers were upregulated when the tissue was disorganised and about to start forming canals (NOE) and angiogenic stimulators and ECM remodelling machineries were differentially expressed once the aquiferous system was in place (PE and PA). Our results are fundamental to better understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the formation of the aquiferous system in sponges, and its similarities with the early onset of blood-vessel formation in animal evolution.

IntroductionElevated pulse pressure (ePP) is an independent marker of cardiovascular risk (CVR) in people older than 60, and a functional marker of subclinical target organ damage (sTOD) which can predict cardiovascular events in patients with hypertension (HTN), regardless of sTOD.ObjectiveTo evaluate the prevalence of ePP in adult population seen in primary care and its association with other vascular risk factors, sTOD and with cardiovascular disease (CVD).Materials and methodsObservational multicentre study conducted in Spain (8,066 patients, 54.5% women) from the prospective cohort study IBERICAN recruited in Primary Care. Pulse pressure (PP) was defined as the difference between the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥60 mmHg. Adjusted (for age and sex) ePP prevalence were determined. Bivariate and multivariate analyses of the possible variables associated with ePP were carried out.ResultsThe mean of PP was 52.35 mmHg, and was significantly higher (p

Abstract Background Sponge holobionts (i.e., the host and its associated microbiota) play a key role in the cycling of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in marine ecosystems. On coral reefs, an ecological shift from coral-dominated to algal-dominated ecosystems is currently occurring. Given that benthic corals and macroalgae release different types of DOM, in different abundances and with different bioavailability to sponge holobionts, it is important to understand how the metabolic activity of the host and associated microbiota change in response to the exposure to both DOM sources. Here, we look at the differential gene expression of two sponge holobionts 6 hours after feeding on naturally sourced coral- and macroalgal-DOM using RNA sequencing and meta-transcriptomic analysis. Results We found a slight, but significant differential gene expression in the comparison between the coral- and macroalgal-DOM treatments in both the high microbial abundance sponge Plakortis angulospiculatus and the low microbial abundance sponge Haliclona vansoesti. In the hosts, processes that regulate immune response, signal transduction, and metabolic pathways related to cell proliferation were elicited. In the associated microbiota carbohydrate metabolism was upregulated in both treatments, but coral-DOM induced further lipid and amino acids biosynthesis, while macroalgal-DOM caused a stress response. These differences could be driven by the presence of distinct organic macronutrients in the two DOM sources and of small pathogens or bacterial virulence factors in the macroalgal-DOM. Conclusions This work provides two new sponge meta-transcriptomes and a database of putative genes and genetic pathways that are involved in the differential processing of coral- versus macroalgal-DOM as food source to sponges with high and low abundances of associated microbes. These pathways include carbohydrate metabolism, signaling pathways, and immune responses. However, the differences in the meta-transcriptomic responses of the sponge holobionts after 6 hours of feeding on the two DOM sources were small. Longer-term responses to both DOM sources should be assessed to evaluate how the metabolism and the ecological function of sponges will be affected when reefs shift from coral towards algal dominance.

This study presents a large-scale analysis of microbial diversity in deep-sea sponges. They show that sponge microbial abundance status, geographic distance, sponge phylogeny and the physical-biogeochemical environment drive microbiome composition, in descending order of relevance. The uniqueness of each deep-sea sponge ground stresses the need for their strategic preservation.

Little is known about dispersal in deep-sea ecosystems, especially for sponges, which are abundant ecosystem engineers. Understanding patterns of gene flow in deep-sea sponges is essential, especially in areas where rising pressure from anthropogenic activities makes difficult to combine management and conservation. Here, we combined population genomics and oceanographic modelling to understand how Northeast Atlantic populations (Cantabrian Sea to Norway) of the deep-sea sponge Phakellia ventilabrum are connected. The analysis comprised ddRADseq derived SNP datasets of 166 individuals collected from 57 sampling stations from 17 different areas, including two Marine Protected Areas, one Special Area of Conservation and other areas with different levels of protection. The 4,017 neutral SNPs used indicated high connectivity and panmixis amongst the majority of areas (Ireland to Norway), spanning ca. 2,500-km at depths of 99–900 m. This was likely due to the presence of strong ocean currents allowing long-distance larval transport, as supported by our migration analysis and by 3D particle tracking modelling. On the contrary, the Cantabrian Sea and Roscoff (France) samples, the southernmost areas in our study, appeared disconnected from the remaining areas, probably due to prevailing current circulation patterns and topographic features, which might be acting as barriers for gene flow. Despite this major genetic break, our results suggest that all protected areas studied are well-connected with each other. Interestingly, analysis of SNPs under selection replicated results obtained for neutral SNPs. The relatively low genetic diversity observed along the study area, though, highlights the potential fragility of this species to changing climates, which might compromise resilience to future threats.

The environmental directives within the European Union consider the necessary environmental protection, establishing strict protocols for controlling methane emissions in mining operations. On the other hand, the exploitation of coal mines has found in the degasification of methane an end in itself, providing a fuel of undoubted energy value that can be easily transformed into electrical or calorific energy. All this must be accompanied by a mining control that establishes the extraction of methane and the prior degasification of the layers as a fundamental task to guarantee the safety of coal mining. Following developments under the Research Fund for Coal and Steel “DD-MET” project (Advanced methane drainage strategy-technology employing underground directional drilling technology for major risk prevention and greenhouse gases emission mitigation), this paper will analyze the related problems, establishing a comparative scenario between Polish and Spanish mines. In Polish mines, it is essential to ensure maximum methane extraction, as the degassed methane has a high economic value in long shafts, while in Spanish mines, the priority is to minimise degassing to control the environmental impact of closed mines. After an analysis of the possible types of methane-emitting sources that could be found distributed throughout the large extensions of the mine surfaces, it is proposed to use as a first approximation to know the areas with environmental risk due to the presence of methane, that of creating a dynamic map of methane concentrations both along the surface of the mine and its surroundings, due to the possible movement of methane by air currents. Subsequently, methane concentration meters on the earth's surface will specify the areas on which we must act to capture or dilute methane until the environmental risk disappears. The results obtained have allowed us to locate the most important environmental concentrations in the access shafts for people and materials and in the ventilation shafts.