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"Carrasco, David"
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Antagonistic bacteria disrupt calcium homeostasis and immobilize algal cells
Photosynthetic unicellular organisms, known as microalgae, are key contributors to carbon fixation on Earth. Their biotic interactions with other microbes shape aquatic microbial communities and influence the global photosynthetic capacity. So far, limited information is available on molecular factors that govern these interactions. We show that the bacterium
Pseudomonas protegens
strongly inhibits the growth and alters the morphology of the biflagellated green alga
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
. This antagonistic effect is decreased in a bacterial mutant lacking orfamides, demonstrating that these secreted cyclic lipopeptides play an important role in the algal–bacterial interaction. Using an aequorin Ca
2+
-reporter assay, we show that orfamide A triggers an increase in cytosolic Ca
2+
in
C
.
reinhardtii
and causes deflagellation of algal cells. These effects of orfamide A, which are specific to the algal class of Chlorophyceae and appear to target a Ca
2+
channel in the plasma membrane, represent a novel biological activity for cyclic lipopeptides.
Predatory or competitive interactions between microbes are poorly understood but likely influence global nutrient cycles. Here, the authors show that Pseudomonas bacteria could immobilize algal cells, potential prey, by releasing secondary metabolites that induce a Ca
2+
signal and algal deflagellation.
Journal Article
Daily life of the Aztecs
\"Examine the fascinating details of the daily lives of the ancient Aztecs through this innovative study of their social history, culture, and continuing influence, written from the perspective of the history of religions\"-- Provided by publisher.
Book
In silico docking yields small molecule negative allosteric modulators targeting the core of Frizzled 7
Targeting the Frizzled family (FZD
1-10
) of WNT receptors pharmacologically has, despite substantial therapeutic potential, proven difficult. Given an almost complete lack of validated, effective small molecules targeting FZDs, no putative ligand binding site has so far been identified. In order to target FZD
7
, a potential target for the treatment of intestinal tumors, we combine an approach of adapted docking setups and large molecular library docking screens, identifying compound C407. Applying pharmacological assays, genetically-encoded biosensors, site-directed mutagenesis, cryo-electron microscopy and molecular dynamics simulations, the compound binding site in the core of the seven transmembrane bundle is validated and C407 is confirmed as a negative allosteric modulator of WNT-induced and FZD-mediated WNT/
β
-catenin signaling. In summary, we provide here the proof-of-principle that targeting FZDs with small molecule compounds is possible and effective. Future hit optimization and functional validation in disease-relevant in vitro and in vivo models will pave the way towards clinical exploration.
Although FZDs are promising drug targets, so far no small molecules targeting them were described. Here, the authors report the a FZD7 core-targeting small molecule negative allosteric modulators of WNT-induced signaling, confirmed by pharmacology, structure determination and MD simulations.
Journal Article
عصر الأزتك : أمة الشمس والأرض
عصر الأزتك : أمة الشمس والأرض-ديفيد كاراسكو، سكوت سيشونز يركز هذا الكتاب على الحياة اليومية للأزتك، خاصة أولئك الذين أقاموا داخل جزيرة تينوتشيتلان وحولها. كما يقدم لنا الكتاب فكرة واضحة عن الوجه الإنساني لهذا الشعب، الذي تساءل شعراؤه عن مصاير قلوبهم وجهد مواطنوه لإقامة صداقات دائمة ونظر آباؤه وأمهاته إلى أبنائهم بوصفهم (عقودا ثمينة) كما حيا أبناؤه الشمس عند شروقها وقتلوا أثناء الحروب وهم على يقين بأنهم، رغم دفنهم في باطن الأرض، أو نثر رماد أجسادهم فوق تراب الوطن، فإنهم سيخلدون في بيت الإله الشمس. ويسعى هذا الكتاب لعقد مقاربة جديدة للعلاقات المركبة بين الممارسات الثقافية والنظام الاجتماعي والأساطير والرموز الدينية.
Book
Remote Sensing Reveals Multidecadal Trends in Coral Cover at Heron Reef, Australia
Coral reefs are experiencing increasing disturbance regimes. The influence these disturbances have on coral reef health is traditionally captured through field-based monitoring, representing a very small reef area (<1%). Satellite-based observations offer the ability to up-scale the spatial extent of monitoring efforts to larger reef areas, providing valuable insights into benthic trajectories through time. Our aim was to demonstrate a repeatable benthic habitat mapping approach integrating field and satellite data acquired annually over 21 years. With this dataset, we analyzed the trends in benthic composition for a shallow platform reef: Heron Reef, Australia. Annual benthic habitat maps were created for the period of 2002 to 2023, using a random forest classifier and object-based contextual editing, with annual in situ benthic data derived from geolocated photoquadrats and coincident high-spatial-resolution (2–5 m pixel size) multi-spectral satellite imagery. Field data that were not used for calibration were used to conduct accuracy assessments. The results demonstrated the capability of remote sensing to map the time series of benthic habitats with overall accuracies between 59 and 81%. We identified various ecological trajectories for the benthic types, such as decline and recovery, over time and space. These trajectories were derived from satellite data and compared with those from the field data. Remote sensing offered valuable insights at both reef and within-reef scales (i.e., geomorphic zones), complementing percentage cover data with precise surface area metrics. We demonstrated that monitoring benthic trajectories at the reef scale every 2 to 3 years effectively captured ecological trends, which is crucial for balancing resource allocation.
Journal Article
Insights into Seagrass Distribution, Persistence, and Resilience from Decades of Satellite Monitoring
Persistence of seagrass meadows varies depending on community composition, substrate stability, environmental forcing, and water quality/clarity. Spatial trends in decadal scale persistence are difficult to assess at the meadow scale using in situ approaches and assessments using Earth Observation often lack temporal consistency. This study utilises a multi-decadal field monitoring dataset and high-resolution multispectral satellite imagery in a cloud-processing environment to assess species distribution, seagrass cover, and meadow persistence. In this work, we investigate long-term trends in overall meadow and species-specific persistence in the Eastern Banks, Moreton Bay, Australia, a shallow, semi-enclosed, subtropical embayment (∼200 km2). Here, we have identified an overall decline in seagrass cover (−15% of the total study area), between 2011 and 2025, through contraction of meadow extent, with most losses in colonising species (Halophila spinulosa and Halophila ovalis) across the deeper sections of the study area. We have also quantified the spatial extent of a previously identified broad-scale ecosystem shift from meadows dominated by Zostera muelleri to a prevalence of Oceana serrulata, and reduction in the sparse cover species H. spinulosa and H. ovalis. We have presented a semi-automated cloud-processing based pipeline to combine in situ seagrass observations, derived from an expertly trained machine learning model, with high resolution multispectral data to assess seagrass cover and persistence. The variability in decadal-scale persistence between the six key species found in this region has been assessed, with dense cover species (e.g., O. serrulata and Z. muelleri) exhibiting moderate persistence (>0.32) and sparse cover species (H. ovalis and H. spinulosa) with low persistence (∼0.15). Colonising/opportunistic growth patterns characterise the species examined in this study, indicating quick response to disturbance but a lack temporal consistency in meadow form, which has critical implications for resilience.
Journal Article
Low-Cost Microcontroller-Based Multiparametric Probe for Coastal Area Monitoring
The monitoring of the coastal environment is a crucial factor in ensuring its proper management. Nevertheless, existing monitoring technologies are limited due to their cost, temporal resolution, and maintenance needs. Therefore, limited data are available for coastal environments. In this paper, we present a low-cost multiparametric probe that can be deployed in coastal areas and integrated into a wireless sensor network to send data to a database. The multiparametric probe is composed of physical sensors capable of measuring water temperature, salinity, and total suspended solids (TSS). The node can store the data in an SD card or send them. A real-time clock is used to tag the data and to ensure data gathering every hour, putting the node in deep sleep mode in the meantime. The physical sensors for salinity and TSS are created for this probe and calibrated. The calibration results indicate that no effect of temperature is found for both sensors and no interference of salinity in the measuring of TSS or vice versa. The obtained calibration model for salinity is characterised by a correlation coefficient of 0.9 and a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 0.74 g/L. Meanwhile, different calibration models for TSS were obtained based on using different light wavelengths. The best case was using a simple regression model with blue light. The model is characterised by a correlation coefficient of 0.99 and an MAE of 12 mg/L. When both infrared and blue light are used to prevent the effect of different particle sizes, the determination coefficient of 0.98 and an MAE of 57 mg/L characterised the multiple regression model.
Journal Article
Qualitative ethnobotanical survey on the virtues of Carapa procera and plants used for protection against mosquitoes in Côte d’Ivoire
Background
Carapa procera
products, particularly the vegetable oil, are prized for their cosmetic, medicinal and especially insect repellent/insecticide properties. The latter property raises questions about the use of this plant against mosquitoes that transmit pathogens within Ivorian communities, given that Côte d’Ivoire is endemic for malaria. There is no scientific report on the use of
C. procera
and the plants traditionally used to prevent mosquito bites in Côte d’Ivoire. The aim of this study is therefore to determine the virtues of
C. procera
known to the people of Côte d’Ivoire and to identify the plants they use to protect themselves from mosquito bites.
Methods
A descriptive qualitative study was conducted in 16 localities in 6 regions of Côte d’Ivoire. The surveys were carried out using non-probability sampling and semi-structured interviews. The sample for each locality was selected on the basis of response saturation. Samples of available or accessible plants cited by local people were collected for identification in the herbarium.
Results
A total of 121 people were interviewed. The study showed that 68.6% of respondents were familiar with
C. procera
.
Carapa procera
vegetable oil has been designated as an insect repellent, particularly for flies, mosquitoes and ants. The cosmetic, antimalarial, anti-fatigue and mystical uses of the plant have been listed. The study showed that 47.1% of respondents used plants to protect themselves against mosquitoes. Twelve plant species traditionally used against mosquitoes were identified:
Nicotiana tabacum, Hyptis suaveolens
,
Ocimum basilicum
,
Citrus sinensis, Azadirachta indica, Elaeis guineensis
,
Chromolaena odorata, Hoslundia opposita
,
Ocimum gratissimum
,
Piliostigma thonningii
,
Alstonia boone
i and
Phyllanthus amarus.
The most common method of use was to fumigate fresh or dried plants inside homes.
Conclusion
The study presented the reasons for the use of
C. procera
and other plants used against mosquitoes in Côte d’Ivoire. It shows the importance of plant substances in protecting communities against mosquitoes, despite the deployment of long-lasting insecticidal bed nets (LLINs) and the spraying of insecticides by health programmes.
Journal Article