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Niche selection and microbial dispersal are key factors that shape microbial communities. However, their relative significance varies across different environments and spatiotemporal scales. While most studies focus on the impact of these forces on community composition, few consider other structural levels such as the physiological stage of the microbial community and single-cell characteristics. To understand the relative influence of microbial dispersal and niche selection on various community structural levels, we concurrently examined the taxonomic composition, abundance and single-cell characteristics of bacterioplankton in an acidic reservoir (El Sancho, Spain) during stratification and mixing periods. A cluster analysis based on environmental variables identified five niches during stratification and one during mixing. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) revealed that communities within each niche differed in both, taxonomic and single-cell characteristics. The environmental variables that explained the variation in class-based ordination differed from those explaining the ordination based on single-cell characteristics. However, a Procrustes analysis indicated a high correlation between the CCA ordinations based on both structural levels, suggesting simultaneous changes in the microbial community at multiple structural levels. Our findings underscore the dominant role of environmental selection in occupying different microbial niches, given that microbial dispersal was not restricted., (© 2024 The Authors. Environmental Microbiology Reports published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Most of the circulating Vitamin D (VitD) is transported bound to vitamin D-binding protein (DBP), and several DBP single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been related to circulating VitD concentration and disease. In this study, we evaluated the association among DBP SNPs and AIDS progression in antiretroviral treatment (ART)-naïve-HIV-infected patients., Methods: We performed a retrospective study in 667 patients who were classified according to their pattern of AIDS progression (183 long-term non-progressors (LTNPs), 334 moderate progressors (MPs), and 150 rapid progressors (RPs)) and 113 healthy blood donors (HIV, HCV, and HBV negative subjects). We genotyped seven DBP SNPs (rs16846876, rs12512631, rs2070741, rs2282679, rs7041, rs1155563, rs2298849) using Agena Bioscience's MassARRAY platform. The genetic association was evaluated by Generalized Linear Models adjusted by age at the moment of HIV diagnosis, gender, risk group, and VDR rs2228570 SNP. Multiple testing correction was performed by the false discovery rate (Benjamini and Hochberg procedure; q-value)., Results: All SNPs were in HWE (p > 0.05) and had similar genotypic frequencies for DBP SNPs in healthy-controls and HIV-infected patients. In unadjusted GLMs, we only found significant association with AIDS progression in rs16846876 and rs12512631 SNPs. In adjusted GLMs, DBP rs16846876 SNP showed significant association under the recessive inheritance model [LTNPs vs. RPs (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 3.53; q-value = 0.044) and LTNPs vs. MPs (aOR = 3.28; q-value = 0.030)] and codominant [LTNPs vs. RPs (aOR = 4.92; q-value = 0.030) and LTNPs vs. MPs (aOR = 3.15; q-value = 0.030)]. Also, we found DBP rs12512631 SNP showed significant association in the inheritance model dominant [LTNPs vs. RPs (aOR = 0.49; q-value = 0.031) and LTNPs vs. MPs (aOR = 0.6; q-value = 0.047)], additive [LTNPs vs. RPs (aOR = 0.61; q-value = 0.031)], overdominant [LTNPs vs. MPs (aOR = 0.55; q-value = 0.032)], and codominant [LTNPs vs. RPs (aOR = 0.52; q-value = 0.036) and LTNPs vs. MPs (aOR = 0.55; q-value = 0.032)]. Additionally, we found a significant association between DBP haplotypes (composed by rs16846876 and rs12512631) and AIDS progression (LTNPs vs RPs): DBP haplotype AC (aOR = 0.63; q-value = 0.028) and the DBP haplotype TT (aOR = 1.64; q-value = 0.028)., Conclusions: DBP rs16846876 and rs12512631 SNPs are related to the patterns of clinical AIDS progression (LTNP, MP, and RP) in ART-naïve HIV-infected patients. Our findings provide new knowledge about AIDS progression that may be relevant to understanding the pathogenesis of HIV infection.

Spain has enacted specific legislation concerning biobanks. This legislation regulates how biobanks should be set up, how they should operate, and the requirements they need to comply with. The main objective of this legislation is to keep a good balance between scientific progress and respect for the rights and freedom of individuals participating in research. Therefore, this legislation lays down a series of basic principles, for instance, the principle to inform donors accurately i) on the deposit of samples in terms of the objectives and implications of their donation and on the need to obtain written consents; ii) on the obligation to establish consistent procedures to guarantee the confidentiality of personal data associated with and obtained from biological samples; iii) on the concept of free sample donation either by donors or by biobanks; iv) on the need for consistent procedures to deposit samples and data in biobanks; and v) for acts of donation and data for research projects to be performed correctly. Although this Spanish legislation fulfills its objectives, it has some drawbacks; mainly it overprotects research participants. This issue should be analyzed in future revisions of the legislation.

Attenuated poxvirus vectors expressing human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) antigens are considered promising HIV/AIDS vaccine candidates. Here, we describe the nature of T cell immune responses induced in healthy volunteers participating in a phase I clinical trial in Spain after intramuscular administration of three doses of the recombinant MVA-B-expressing monomeric gp120 and the fused Gag-Pol-Nef (GPN) polyprotein of clade B. The majority (92.3%) of the volunteers immunized had a positive specific T cell response at any time postvaccination as detected by gamma interferon (IFN-γ) intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) assay. The CD4(+) T cell responses were predominantly Env directed, whereas the CD8(+) T cell responses were similarly distributed against Env, Gag, and GPN. The proportion of responders after two doses of MVA-B was similar to that obtained after the third dose of MVA-B vaccination, and the responses were sustained (84.6% at week 48). Vaccine-induced CD8(+) T cells to HIV-1 antigens after 1 year were polyfunctional and distributed mainly within the effector memory (TEM) and terminally differentiated effector memory (TEMRA) T cell populations. Antivector T cell responses were mostly induced by CD8(+) T cells, highly polyfunctional, and of TEMRA phenotype. These findings demonstrate that the poxvirus MVA-B vaccine candidate given alone is highly immunogenic, inducing broad, polyfunctional, and long-lasting CD4 and CD8 T cell responses to HIV-1 antigens, with preference for TEM. Thus, on the basis of the immune profile of MVA-B in humans, this immunogen can be considered a promising HIV/AIDS vaccine candidate.

The vulnerability of children has long raised ethical concerns resulting in the lack of inclusion of children in research studies. This has impeded the development of relevant medical therapies specific for children. In response to these circumstances, international policies have begun to recognize the need to carry out research focused on children. Translational HIV infection research is highly dependent on many factors including the availability, quality, and traceability of samples and their associated data under a strict system of quality management. The primary objective of the Pediatric HIV BioBank is to contribute to the furthering of scientific knowledge about vertical HIV infection. To achieve this aim, the BioBank processes, stores, and provides distinct samples from HIV/AIDS children to research projects free of charge. Strict compliance to ethical norms is always guaranteed. At present the Pediatric HIV BioBank has 429 vials containing different sample types from 243 vertically HIV-infected children. The Pediatric HIV BioBank represents a novel approach to HIV research that might be of general interest not only for basic and clinical research teams working with HIV, but also for those groups trying to establish large networks focused on researching specific clinical problems. It also represents a model to stimulate cooperative research on specific clinical problems. The main objective of this article is to show the structure and function of the Pediatric HIV BioBank that allow it to efficiently provide samples to different research projects in Spain and in other countries.

Background: The collection of samples from HIV-infected patients is the beginning of the chain of translational research. To carry out quality research that could eventually end in a personalized treatment for HIV, it is essential to guarantee the availability, quality and traceability of samples, under a strict system of quality management., Methods: The Spanish HIV BioBank was created with the objectives of processing, storing and providing distinct samples from HIV/AIDS patients, categorized according to strictly defined characteristics, free of charge to research projects. Strict compliance to ethical norms is always guaranteed., Results: At the moment, the HIV BioBank possesses nearly 50,000 vials containing different prospective longitudinal study sample types. More than 1,700 of these samples are now used in 19 national and international research projects., Conclusion: The HIV BioBank represents a novel approach to HIV research that might be of general interest not only for basic and clinical research teams working on HIV, but also for those groups trying to establish large networks focused on research on specific clinical problems. It also represents a model to stimulate cooperative research among large numbers of research groups working as a network on specific clinical problems. The main objective of this article is to show the structure and function of the HIV BioBank that allow it to very efficiently release samples to different research project not only in Spain but also in other countries.

Introduction: The development of resistance to antiretroviral therapy (ART) reduces the effectiveness of these drugs in HIV-infected children., Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study in 86 vertically HIV-infected children, divided into four groups according to prior treatment: group 1: nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI), group 2: NRTI and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), group 3: NRTI and protease inhibitor (PI), group 4: NRTI, NNRTI and PI., Results: In group 1 (11 children), the median treatment duration was 35 months (26 to 108). Nucleoside-associated mutations (NAMs) were found in 10 of these patients and the Q151M multiresistance mutation was found in two. The three children in group 2 were treated for 9, 32 and 42 months with NRTI and NNRTI. One child showed three NAMs and another showed Q151M. Two children had the K103N mutation. Group 3 (36 children) received treatment with NRTI and PI for 48.0 +/- 27.6 and 23.0 +/- 14.6 months, respectively. NAMs were observed in 94 % of the patients in this group, and one child showed the Q151M mutation. In group 4 (36 children) total treatment duration was 70.0 +/- 36.1 months (13.0 +/- 12.1 months with NNRTI, and 39.0 +/- 14.3 months with PI). NAMs were observed in all patients in this group, and Q151M was found in three children. K103N and Y181C were detected in 24 (67%) and 10 (28%) of the children respectively, while 32 (90%) showed primary mutations to PI., Conclusions: A high prevalence of resistance mutations to NRTI and early appearance of resistance to NNRTI were observed in treated children.

Health resources are limited and consequently real cost generators must be identified to optimize resources. In the present article, we describe the structure of the Homogeneous Functional Groups (HFG) for Diagnostic Techniques in the Allergy Department of the Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital in Murcia (Spain) and the healthcare products generated. Based on the 2005 budget, variable costing was used to calculate the costs of the healthcare products generated (skin tests, investigation of drug allergies, etc.) by one of the three HFG (the HFG for complementary investigations). On the basis of these costs, and taking as the unit the cost of one skin prick test, we assigned relative units of value (RUV) to each of the products in our services portfolio. The following conclusions can be drawn: 1) the current system of variable costing provides information, which should be useful to health professionals; 2) the real cost generators in the microcosm of daily clinical practice should be identified to allow resource reallocation; 3) the costing system used enables modifications to be made that allow decision making on optimal use of the budget; 4) to take the decisions required to optimize resources, clinical management and complementary tests should go hand-in-hand.

Objective: To examine the characteristics, prognostic factors, and outcome of patients with severe hospital-acquired pneumonia admitted to the ICU., Design and Setting: Prospective observational clinical study in two medical-surgical ICUs with 16 and 20 beds, Patients and Participants: During a 7-year period all hospitalized patients requiring admission to either ICU for hospital-acquired pneumonia were followed up., Measurements and Results: We diagnosed 96 episodes of severe hospital-acquired pneumonia, and in 67 cases a causal diagnosis was made. Most episodes were late-onset pneumonia. Gram-negative micro-organisms were isolated in 51% of episodes diagnosed, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequent pathogen isolated (24%). Clearly significant variations happened between hospitals, particularly affecting the incidence of Aspergillus spp. and Legionella pneumophila. Forty-nine patients developed septic shock (51%). Fifty-one patients died (53%). Aspergillosis and pneumonia due to P. aeruginosa were associated with the highest mortality. Septic shock (OR: 14.27) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR: 6.11) were independently associated with a poor prognosis., Conclusions: Patients with severe hospital-acquired pneumonia admitted to the ICU present high mortality. The presence of septic shock and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in conjunction with specific microorganisms are associated with a poor prognosis. Local epidemiological data combined with a patient-based approach may allow a more accurate therapy decision making.

Objectives: To assess the immunological and virological markers as potential predictors of progression to death in HIV-1 infected < 12 months of age., Patients and Methods: Forty-three HIV-1 infants < 12 months of age were evaluated. None of the children received antiviral treatment, neither their mothers during pregnancy. Plasma viremia was quantified by standardised molecular assay. Virus isolation, evaluation of the non-syncytia-inducing (NSI) or syncytia-inducing (SI) phenotype and kinetic of replication was performed in parallel cultures., Results: Regarding viral load cut off levels of 5 log10 copies/ml appeared to be the best predictors of progression to death. The mean times of progression to death estimated by Kaplan-Meier method were 61.08 months fir children with viral load below that limit, and 19.16 months above this limit (p < 0.013). When the first viral isolate was NSI the mean time of progression to death was of 73.9 months, whereas it was of 26.7 months when was SI (p < 0.003). When the first viral isolate was slow/low (S/L) the mean times of progression to death was 71.8 months, whereas it was of it was of 19.8 months when was rapid/high (R/H) (p < 0.0003). When the first viral isolate was S/L-NSI the mean times of progression to death was of 73.9 months, whereas it was of 19.4 months when was R/H-SI (p < 0.0004). The hazard rate of progression to death in infants with viral load > 5 log10 copies/ml was 4.7, whereas was of 8.07 in those with SI isolates and of 9.32 in those with R/H kinetics., Conclusions: Initial HIV-1 biological characteristics are better predictors of progression to death than viral load in untreated infants under 12 months of age. Nevertheless, a correlation exists between viral load over 5 log10 copies/ml and progression to death.

Two different methods for using air quality data to estimate daily maximum concentrations along a year of surface ozone concentration in a new measurement station in Canary Islands are described. It is usually assumed that sequences of pollutant concentration show stationary behaviour. In this paper, it is shown that the application of such procedure could be useful to estimate probabilities of maximum concentration of surface ozone. Nevertheless, this method does not take into account the time structure of the original data, so that some caution should be taken into account. In this sense, an alternative procedure, assuming nonstationary behaviour of data, is developed to estimate empirically the probability distributional properties of the original series. Its application yields a substancial improve of the explanation of underlying series structure.