Designing mixed cationic/anionic supports to covalently immobilize/stabilize enzymes with high isoelectric point by enzyme adsorption and support-enzyme glutaraldehyde crosslinking.

Ficin fully immobilized on Asp-agarose beads at pH 7 but not on an aminated support. This made enzyme adsorption plus glutaraldehyde modification non-viable for this enzyme. Modifying glyoxyl-agarose beads with mixtures of Asp and 1,6-hexamethylenediamine (HA) at different ratios, mixed anion/cation exchanger supports were built. Only if HA greatly exceed Asp in the support, immobilization did not work. While only using the Asp-agarose support immobilized enzyme molecules were only ionically adsorbed after glutaraldehyde treatment (visualized in SDS-PAGE analysis), the mixed supports gave covalent immobilization. The glutaraldehyde modification of these biocatalysts permitted to establish covalent bonds with the support, and this was more effective when using higher amounts of HA in the support. When around 60 % of the groups in the support were HA, the treatment with glutaraldehyde fully suppressed enzyme release from the support after boiling in SDS. The glutaraldehyde treated biocatalysts were more stable than just the adsorbed enzymes or the enzyme adsorbed only on Asp supports and then treated with glutaraldehyde (the optimal biocatalyst retained 90 % of the initial activity while the just adsorbed ficin retained 50 % of the initial activity). This strategy can be utilized to immobilize other proteins with high isoelectric points following this immobilization strategy.

Multivariate curve resolution-based data fusion approaches applied in 1H NMR metabolomic analysis of healthy cohorts.

BACKGROUND: Metabolomics plays a critical role in deciphering metabolic alterations within individuals, demanding the use of sophisticated analytical methodologies to navigate its intricate complexity. While many studies focus on single biofluid types, simultaneous analysis of multiple matrices enhances understanding of complex biological mechanisms. Consequently, the development of data fusion methods enabling multiblock analysis becomes essential for comprehensive insights into metabolic dynamics. RESULTS: This study introduces a novel guideline for jointly analyzing diverse metabolomic datasets (serum, urine, metadata) with a focus on metabolic differences between groups within a healthy cohort. The guideline presents two fusion strategies, 'Low-Level data fusion' (LLDF) and 'Mid-Level data fusion' (MLDF), employing a sequential application of Multivariate Curve Resolution with Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS), linking the outcomes of successive analyses. MCR-ALS is a versatile method for analyzing mixed data, adaptable at various stages of data processing-encompassing resonance integration, data compression, and exploratory analysis. The LLDF and MLDF strategies were applied to 1H NMR spectral data extracted from urine and serum samples, coupled with biochemical metadata sourced from 145 healthy volunteers. SIGNIFICANCE: Both methodologies effectively integrated and analysed multiblock datasets, unveiling the inherent data structure and variables associated with discernible factors among healthy cohorts. While both approaches successfully detected sex-related differences, the MLDF strategy uniquely revealed components linked to age. By applying this analysis, we aim to enhance the interpretation of intricate biological mechanisms and uncover variations that may not be easily discernible through individual data analysis.

Nutritional Characterization of Chilean Landraces of Common Bean.

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the primary grain legume cultivated worldwide for direct human consumption due to the high nutritional value of its seeds and pods. The high protein content of common beans highlights it as the most promising source of plant-based protein for the food industry. Additionally, landraces of common bean have great variability in nutritional traits, which is necessary to increase the nutritional quality of elite varieties. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to nutritionally characterize 23 Chilean landraces and 5 commercial varieties of common bean to identify genotypes with high nutritional value that are promising for the food industry and for genetic improvement programs. The landrace Phv23 ('Palo') was the most outstanding with high concentrations of minerals such as P (7.53 g/kg), K (19.8 g/kg), Mg (2.43 g/kg), Zn (52.67 mg/kg), and Cu (13.67 mg/kg); essential amino acids (364.8 mg/g protein); and total proteins (30.35 g/100 g seed). Additionally, the landraces Phv9 ('Cimarrón'), Phv17 ('Juanita'), Phv3 ('Araucano'), Phv8 ('Cabrita/Señorita'), and Phv4 ('Arroz') had a high protein content. The landrace Phv24 ('Peumo') stood out for its phenolic compounds (TPC = 218.1 mg GA/100 g seed) and antioxidant activity (ORAC = 22,167.9 µmol eq trolox/100 g extract), but it has moderate to low mineral and protein concentrations. In general, the concentration of nutritional compounds in some Chilean landraces was significantly different from the commercial varieties, highlighting their high nutritional value and their potential use for the food industry and for genetic improvement purposes.

A Past Genetic Bottleneck from Argentine Beans and a Selective Sweep Led to the Race Chile of the Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).

The domestication process of the common bean gave rise to six different races which come from the two ancestral genetic pools, the Mesoamerican (Durango, Jalisco, and Mesoamerica races) and the Andean (New Granada, Peru, and Chile races). In this study, a collection of 281 common bean landraces from Chile was analyzed using a 12K-SNP microarray. Additionally, 401 accessions representing the rest of the five common bean races were analyzed. A total of 2543 SNPs allowed us to differentiate a genetic group of 165 accessions that corresponds to the race Chile, 90 of which were classified as pure accessions, such as the bean types 'Tórtola', 'Sapito', 'Coscorrón', and 'Frutilla'. Our genetic analysis indicates that the race Chile has a close relationship with accessions from Argentina, suggesting that nomadic ancestral peoples introduced the bean seed to Chile. Previous archaeological and genetic studies support this hypothesis. Additionally, the low genetic diversity (π = 0.053; uHe = 0.53) and the negative value of Tajima' D (D = -1.371) indicate that the race Chile suffered a bottleneck and a selective sweep after its introduction, supporting the hypothesis that a small group of Argentine bean genotypes led to the race Chile. A total of 235 genes were identified within haplotype blocks detected exclusively in the race Chile, most of them involved in signal transduction, supporting the hypothesis that intracellular signaling pathways play a fundamental role in the adaptation of organisms to changes in the environment. To date, our findings are the most complete investigation associated with the origin of the race Chile of common bean.

Meta-QTL analysis and candidate genes for quality traits, mineral content, and abiotic-related traits in wild emmer.

Wild emmer (Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides) genotypes were studied for their high-nutritional value and good tolerance to various types of stress; for this reason, several QTL (quantitative trait loci) studies have been conducted to find favorable alleles to be introgressed into modern wheat cultivars. Given the complexity of the QTL nature, their interaction with the environment, and other QTLs, a small number of genotypes have been used in wheat breeding programs. Meta-QTL (MQTL) analysis helps to simplify the existing QTL information, identifying stable genomic regions and possible candidate genes for further allele introgression. The study aimed to identify stable QTL regions across different environmental conditions and genetic backgrounds using the QTL information of the past 14 years for different traits in wild emmer based upon 17 independent studies. A total of 41 traits were classified as quality traits (16), mineral composition traits (11), abiotic-related traits (13), and disease-related traits (1). The analysis revealed 852 QTLs distributed across all 14 chromosomes of wild emmer, with an average of 61 QTLs per chromosome. Quality traits had the highest number of QTLs (35%), followed by mineral content (33%), abiotic-related traits (28%), and disease-related traits (4%). Grain protein content (GPC) and thousand kernel weight (TKW) were associated with most of the QTLs detected. A total of 43 MQTLs were identified, simplifying the information, and reducing the average confidence interval (CI) from 22.6 to 4.78 cM. These MQTLs were associated with multiple traits across different categories. Nine candidate genes were identified for several stable MQTLs, potentially contributing to traits such as quality, mineral content, and abiotic stress resistance. These genes play essential roles in various plant processes, such as carbohydrate metabolism, nitrogen assimilation, cell wall biogenesis, and cell wall extensibility. Overall, this study underscores the importance of considering MQTL analysis in wheat breeding programs, as it identifies stable genomic regions associated with multiple traits, offering potential solutions for improving wheat varieties under diverse environmental conditions.

Adsorption features of reduced aminated supports modified with glutaraldehyde: Understanding the heterofunctional features of these supports.

Immobilization of enzymes on aminated supports using the glutaraldehyde chemistry may involve three different interactions, cationic, hydrophobic, and covalent interactions. To try to understand the impact this heterofunctionality, we study the physical adsorption of the beta-galactosidase from Aspergillus niger, on aminated supports (MANAE) and aminated supports with one (MANAE-GLU) or two molecules of glutaraldehyde (MANAE-GLU-GLU). To eliminate the chemical reactivity of the glutaraldehyde, the supports were reduced using sodium borohydride. After enzyme adsorption, the release of the enzyme from the supports using different NaCl concentrations, Triton X100, ionic detergents (SDS and CTAB), or different temperatures (4 °C to 55 °C) was studied. Using MANAE support, at 0.3 M NaCl almost all the immobilized enzyme was released. Using MANAE-GLU, 0.3 M, and 0.6 M NaCl similar results were obtained. However, incubation at 1 M or 2 M NaCl, many enzyme molecules were not released from the support. For the MANAE-GLU-GLU support, none of the tested concentrations of NaCl was sufficient to release all enzyme bound to the support. Only using high temperatures, 0.6 M NaCl, and 1 % CTAB or SDS, could the totality of the proteins be released from the support. The results shown in this paper confirm the heterofunctional character of aminated supports modified with glutaraldehyde.

Brief guidelines for beginners on how to perform and analyze esophageal high-resolution manometry.

High-resolution manometry (HRM) is a diagnostic tool for surgeons, gastroenterologists and other healthcare professionals to evaluate esophageal physiology. The Chicago Classification (CC) system is based on a consensus of worldwide experts to minimize ambiguity in HRM data acquisition and diagnosis of esophageal motility disorders. The most updated version, CCv4.0, was published in 2021; however, it does not provide step-by-step guidelines (i.e., for beginners) on how to assess the most important HRM metrics. This paper aims to summarize the basic guidelines for conducting a high-quality HRM study including data acquisition and interpretation, based on CCv4.0, using Manoview ESO analysis software, version 3.3 (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN).

[Colonic pseudotumoral involvement as an expression of severe plasminogen deficiency]. / Compromiso pseudotumoral colónico como expresión de déficit grave de plasminogéno.

Plasminogen deficiency is a very rare multisystem entity that affects different tissues of the economy through the deposition of fibrin-rich pseudomembrane and determines a heterogeneous and diverse clinical presentation. It is transmitted in an autosomal recessive manner by mutations of the PLG gene on chromosome 6 and can be divided into hypoplasminogenemia or type I and dysplasminogenemia or type II, the latter not related to clinical pathology. Severe plasminogen deficiency has a prevalence of 1.6 individuals per million inhabitants and although it can be diagnosed in adulthood, the most severe symptoms are observed in infants and children. The most common form of onset is the so-called woody conjunctivitis, characterized by fibrin membranes that are deposited on the eyelids since childhood, causing exophytic lesions that affect vision. It can also affect other mucous membranes such as the gingival, respiratory, oropharyngeal, digestive and genital mucosa, among others. We present a rare case of severe plasminogen deficiency with conjunctivitis and woody cervicitis who was admitted with clinical acute abdominal symptoms, associated with a tumor mass due to pseudomembranous deposition in the ascending colon that simulated inflammatory bowel disease and resolved spontaneously.

La deficiencia de plasminógeno es una entidad multisistémica, muy infrecuente, que afecta diferentes tejidos de la economía mediante el depósito de pseudo membranas ricas en fibrina y que determina una presentación clínica heterogénea y diversa. Se transmite en forma autosómica recesiva por mutaciones del gen PLG del cromosoma 6 y se puede dividir en hipoplasminogenemia o tipo I y displasminogenemia o tipo II, esta última no relacionada con patología clínica. El déficit grave de plasminógeno tiene una prevalencia de 1.6 individuos por millón de habitantes y si bien puede diagnosticarse en edad adulta, los síntomas más graves se observan en lactantes y niños. La forma de inicio más común es la denominada conjuntivitis leñosa, caracterizada por membranas de fibrina que se depositan en los parpados desde la infancia, provocando lesiones exofíticas que afectan la visión. También puede afectar otras mucosas como la gingival, respiratoria, orofaríngea, digestiva y genital entre otros. Presentamos un raro caso de deficiencia grave de plasminógeno con conjuntivitis y cervicitis leñosa que ingresó con un cuadro de abdomen agudo clínico, asociado a una masa tumoral por depósito de pseudomembranas en el colon ascendente que simuló una enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal y que se resolvió espontáneamente.

Compromiso pseudotumoral colónico como expresión de déficit grave de plasminogéno / Colonic pseudotumoral involvement as an expression of severe plasminogen deficiency

Resumen La deficiencia de plasminógeno es una entidad multisistémica, muy infrecuente, que afecta diferentes tejidos de la economía mediante el depósito de pseu do membranas ricas en fibrina y que determina una presentación clínica heterogénea y diversa. Se trans mite en forma autosómica recesiva por mutaciones del gen PLG del cromosoma 6 y se puede dividir en hipoplasminogenemia o tipo I y displasminogenemia o tipo II, esta última no relacionada con patología clínica. El déficit grave de plasminógeno tiene una prevalencia de 1.6 individuos por millón de habitan tes y si bien puede diagnosticarse en edad adulta, los síntomas más graves se observan en lactantes y ni ños. La forma de inicio más común es la denominada conjuntivitis leñosa, caracterizada por membranas de fibrina que se depositan en los parpados desde la infancia, provocando lesiones exofíticas que afectan la visión. También puede afectar otras mucosas como la gingival, respiratoria, orofaríngea, digestiva y genital entre otros. Presentamos un raro caso de deficiencia grave de plasminógeno con conjuntivitis y cervicitis leñosa que ingresó con un cuadro de abdomen agudo clínico, asociado a una masa tumoral por depósito de pseudomembranas en el colon ascendente que simu ló una enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal y que se resolvió espontáneamente.

Abstract Plasminogen deficiency is a very rare multisystem entity that affects different tissues of the economy through the de position of fibrin-rich pseudomembrane and determines a heterogeneous and diverse clinical presentation. It is trans mitted in an autosomal recessive manner by mutations of the PLG gene on chromosome 6 and can be divided into hypoplasminogenemia or type I and dysplasminogenemia or type II, the latter not related to clinical pathology. Severe plasminogen deficiency has a prevalence of 1.6 individuals per million inhabitants and although it can be diagnosed in adulthood, the most severe symptoms are observed in infants and children. The most common form of onset is the so-called woody conjunctivitis, characterized by fibrin membranes that are deposited on the eyelids since child hood, causing exophytic lesions that affect vision. It can also affect other mucous membranes such as the gingival, respiratory, oropharyngeal, digestive and genital mucosa, among others. We present a rare case of severe plasminogen deficiency with conjunctivitis and woody cervicitis who was admitted with clinical acute abdominal symptoms, associated with a tumor mass due to pseudomembranous deposition in the ascending colon that simulated inflam matory bowel disease and resolved spontaneously.

Effect of the incorporation of pregelatinized cassava starch on the physicochemical, textural, and acoustic characteristics of baked snacks.

Almost all the dehydrated cassava puree is pregelatinized cassava starch (PCS). Its potential application in food would add variety. But food characteristics vary depending on the raw materials used. We examined how the structure of snacks changed when PCS was used instead of flour in terms of porosity, instrumental textural parameters, and acoustic parameters and compare them to commercial crackers. The volume of air was unaffected by the substitution. However, substitution did reduce thickness and alter the number, size, and wall firmness of pores, as well as their distribution and shape, which raise the values of firmness, fracturability, hardness, and fragility, though not linearly. The partial substitutions and the control did not exhibit any appreciable differences in the acoustic parameters. The total replacement sample was noisier and maintained a wide variety of sounds. The PCS vitreous state is primarily responsible for structure changes, but other elements, such as processing conditions, contribute to differences in comparison to the commercial samples. The porosity of commercial samples was lower than that of the elaborated samples. Texturally, it led to lower fracturability and greater fragility (less mm until fracture and fewer force peaks). The elaborated samples were all louder than the commercials. Although sensory analysis is required to classify a food as crunchy, the physicochemical changes caused by the substitution and their impact on the structure's behavior were established. Each textural parameter cannot determine whether the food is crunchy, crispy, or friable on its own; an analysis that incorporates all the characteristics is required. Supplement Material. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study demonstrates that pregelatinized cassava flour can be used to partially or completely replace wheat flour in baked snacks. Although textural differences were noted, these alterations were acceptable for products with a similar market niche. These findings might be used in the food business, notably by companies aiming to offer baked snack choices that are not made with standard wheat flour.

Gastric adenocarcinoma burden, trends and survival in Cali, Colombia: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Gastric adenocarcinoma (GA) has changed in recent decades. Cancer estimates are often calculated from population-based cancer registries, which lack valuable information to guide decision-making (clinical outcomes). We describe the trends in clinical practice for GA using a hospital-based cancer registry over a timespan of 15 years. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Data were gathered from adults diagnosed and treated for GA at Fundación Valle del Lili (FVL), between 2000 and 2014, from the hospital's own cancer registry and crossed with Cali's Cancer Registry. Additional data were obtained directly from clinical records, pathology reports and the clinical laboratory. Patients younger than 18 years and those for whom limited information was available in the medical history were excluded. A survival analysis was conducted using Kaplan-Meier method. Results: A total of 500 patients met eligibility criteria. Median age was 64 years (IQR: 54-74 years), 39.8% were female, 22.2% were at an early stage, 32.2% had a locally advanced disease, and 29% a metastatic disease, 69% had intestinal subtype, 48.6% had a positive H. pylori test, 85.2% had a distal lesion, 62% underwent gastrectomy, 60.6% lymphadenectomy, and 40.6% received chemotherapy. Survival at 5 years for all cases was 39.9% (CI 95% 35.3-44.5). Survival decreased over time in all groups and was lower in age-groups <39 and 60-79 with either locally advanced or metastatic disease. Prognostic factors that were significant in the Cox proportional-hazards model were late stages of the tumor (locally advanced: HR=2.52; metastatic: HR=4.17), diffuse subtype (HR=1.40), gastrectomy (subtotal: HR=0.42; total: 0.44) and palliative chemotherapy (HR=0.61). Conclusions: The treatment of GA has changed in recent decades. GA survival was associated with clinical staging, diffuse subtype, gastrectomy and palliative chemotherapy. These findings must be interpreted in the context of a hospital-based study.

Prácticas de Responsabilidad Social Empresarial dirigidas a los stakeholders en PYMEs del Valle del Cauca: literatura vs práctica / Stakeholder-oriented corporate social responsibility practices in SMEs in Valle del Cauca: literature vs. practice / Práticas de Responsabilidade Social Corporativa centradas nas partes interessadas nas PMEs do Valle do Cauca: literatura vs. prática

RESUMEN Las empresas requieren el desarrollo de prácticas de Responsabilidad Social Empresarial - RSE que sean un medio de relación con sus grupos de interés y que evidencien cómo contribuyen en la satisfacción de las necesidades de los mismos. Este artículo busca realizar un análisis descriptivo de las prácticas de RSE por grupo de interés que se presentan en la literatura y hacer un comparativo con las prácticas que reportan las PYMES más exportadoras del Valle del Cauca. Para lo cual se realiza una revisión de los artículos académicos entre 2010 y 2020 y se hace un análisis de contenido sobre las prácticas de RSE publicadas en las páginas web de las PYMES más exportadoras del Valle del Cauca de acuerdo al reporte de la Cámara de Comercio de Cali en el ano 2020, teniendo como base de comparación las dimensiones de RSE econòmica, filantrópica y ético-legal planteadas por Carroll. Los resultados indican que el grupo de interés que mayor cantidad de prácticas percibe por parte de las PYMES analizadas son los empleados y que la dimensión de RSE que más prácticas tienen es la ético-legal. Por último, se halla que múltiples prácticas van dirigidas a dos o más grupos de interés lo que permite una optimización de recursos y un mejor alcance por práctica de RSE aplicada en las PYMES.

ABSTRACT Companies require the development of corporate social responsibility - CSR practices that are a means of relating with their stakeholders and that demonstrate how they contribute to satisfying their needs. This article seeks to carry out a descriptive analysis of CSR practices by stakeholder presented in the literature and to make a comparison with the practices reported by the most exporting SMEs in Valle del Cauca.To this end, a review of academic articles between 2010 and 2020 was carried out and a content analysis was made of the CSR practices published on the web pages of the most exporting SMEs in Valle del Cauca according to the report of the Cali Chamber of Commerce in 2020, using as a basis for comparison the dimensions of economic, philanthropic and ethical-legal CSR proposed by Carroll. The results indicate that the stakeholder group that perceives the greatest number of practices on the part of the SMEs analyzed are the employees, and that the CSR dimension with the most practices is ethical-legal. Finally it is found that multiple practices are aimed at two or more stakeholders, which allows for an optimization of resources and a better scope per CSR practice applied in SMEs.

RESUMO As empresas exigem o desenvolvimento de práticas de Responsabilidade Social Corporativa - RSE que sejam um meio de relacionamento com suas partes interessadas e que mostrem como elas contribuem para satisfazer suas necessidades. Este artigo procura realizar uma análise descritiva das práticas de RSE pelas partes interessadas apresentadas na literatura e fazer uma comparação com as práticas relatadas pelas PMEs mais exportadoras do Valle del Cauca. Para isso, é feita uma revisão dos artigos acadêmicos entre 2010 e 2020 e é feita uma análise de conteúdo das práticas de RSE publicadas nos sites das PMEs mais exportadoras de Valle del Cauca, de acordo com o relatório da Câmara de Comércio de Cali em 2020, usando como base de comparação as dimensões da RSE econômica, filantrópica e ético-legal proposta pela Carroll. Os resultados indicam que o grupo de participantes com o maior número de práticas percebidas pelas PMEs analisadas são os funcionários e que a dimensão de RSE com o maior número de práticas ético-jurídicas. Finalmente, constata-se que múltiplas práticas visam duas ou mais partes interessadas, o que permite uma otimização dos recursos e um melhor escopo por prática de RSE aplicada nas PMEs.

Bruxism an issue between the myths and fact / Bruxismo, un problema entre los mitos y los hechos

Abstract Is our goal in this paper to discuss the current concepts about bruxism, a topic that has been a matter of discussion on the dental field for many years. Recent International efforts have been made to challenge bruxism old definitions; this has derivate to a consensus and an actual new concept that defines bruxism as a behavior instead of a disorder. As a behavior, it is explained in this review how it can have negative health consequences, can be innocuous and how new research support that bruxism can even be a protective factor. Different etiological factors are reviewed in this paper as well the influence of external and internal mechanism related to medications, emotional stress, systemic factors, and potential pharmacological pathways. Moreover, it is briefly summarized the role of oral appliances on sleep bruxism. Finally, clinical considerations and recommendation for the dental professional regarding sings that should be notice during the exam are part of this overview.

Resumen Es nuestro objetivo en este artículo discutir los conceptos actuales sobre el bruxismo, un tema que ha sido motivo de discusión en el campo odontológico durante muchos años. Se han hecho esfuerzos internacionales recientes para desafiar las viejas definiciones de bruxismo; esto ha derivado en un consenso y en la actualidad un nuevo concepto que define al bruxismo como un comportamiento en lugar de un trastorno. Como conducta, se explica en esta revisión cómo puede tener consecuencias negativas para la salud, puede ser inocuo y cómo nuevas investigaciones avalan que el bruxismo puede incluso ser un factor protector. En este artículo se exponen diferentes factores etiológicos, así como la influencia de mecanismos externos e internos relacionados como: medicamentos, estrés emocional, factores sistémicos y posibles vías farmacológicas. Además, se resume brevemente el papel de los aparatos orales en el bruxismo del sueño. Finalmente, se presentan consideraciones clínicas y la recomendación para el profesional en odontología con respecto a los signos que deben ser observados durante el examen clínico son parte de esta revisión.

A comprehensive meta-QTL analysis for yield-related traits of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) grown under different water regimes.

Abiotic stress strongly affects yield-related traits in durum wheat, in particular drought is one of the main environmental factors that have effect on grain yield and plant architecture. In order to obtain new genotypes well adapted to stress conditions, the highest number of desirable traits needs to be combined in the same genotype. In this context, hundreds of quantitative trait loci (QTL) have been identified for yield-related traits in different genetic backgrounds and environments. Meta-QTL (MQTL) analysis is a useful approach to combine data sets and for creating consensus positions for the QTL detected in independent studies for the reliability of their location and effects. MQTL analysis is a useful method to dissect the genetic architecture of complex traits, which provide an extensive allelic coverage, a higher mapping resolution and allow the identification of putative molecular markers useful for marker-assisted selection (MAS). In the present study, a complete and comprehensive MQTL analysis was carried out to identify genomic regions associated with grain-yield related traits in durum wheat under different water regimes. A total of 724 QTL on all 14 chromosomes (genomes A and B) were collected for the 19 yield-related traits selected, of which 468 were reported under rainfed conditions, and 256 under irrigated conditions. Out of the 590 QTL projected on the consensus map, 421 were grouped into 76 MQTL associated with yield components under both irrigated and rainfed conditions, 12 genomic regions containing stable MQTL on all chromosomes except 1A, 4A, 5A, and 6B. Candidate genes associated to MQTL were identified and an in-silico expression analysis was carried out for 15 genes selected among those that were differentially expressed under drought. These results can be used to increase durum wheat grain yields under different water regimes and to obtain new genotypes adapted to climate change.

Phylodynamics and Coat Protein Analysis of Babaco Mosaic Virus in Ecuador.

Babaco is a fast-growing herbaceous shrub with great commercial potential because of the organoleptic properties of its fruit. Babaco mosaic virus (BabMV) is a potexvirus in the family Alphaflexiviridae affecting babaco in all the provinces that produce this crop in Ecuador. BabMV was recently described but it has been affecting babaco for decades and, since many potexviruses are serologically indistinguishable, it may have been previously misidentified as papaya mosaic virus. Based on the coat protein (CP) gene, we aimed to study the distribution and epidemiological patterns of BabMV in babaco and chamburo over the years and to model its three-dimensional structure. Sequences of the CP were obtained from thirty-six isolates from plants collected in the main babaco-producing provinces of Ecuador between 2016 and 2021. The evolution rate of BabMV was estimated at 1.21 × 10-3 nucleotide substitutions site-1 year-1 and a time of origin of the most recent common ancestor around 1958.80. From molecular dynamics simulations, compared to other proteins of BabMV-RDRP, TGB1, and Alkb domain-the CP exhibited a higher flexibility with the C and N terminals as the most flexible regions. The reconstructed viral distribution provides dispersion patterns which have implications for control approaches of BabMV.

Soluble Free, Esterified and Insoluble-Bound Phenolic Antioxidants from Chickpeas Prevent Cytotoxicity in Human Hepatoma HuH-7 Cells Induced by Peroxyl Radicals.

Chickpeas are rich sources of bioactive compounds such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, and isoflavonoids. However, the contribution of insoluble-bound phenolics to their antioxidant properties remains unclear. Four varieties of chickpeas were evaluated for the presence of soluble (free and esterified) and insoluble-bound phenolics as well as their antiradical activity, reducing power and inhibition of peroxyl-induced cytotoxicity in human HuH-7 cells. In general, the insoluble-bound fraction showed a higher total phenolic content. Phenolic acids, flavonoids, and isoflavonoids were identified and quantified by UPLC-MS/MS. Taxifolin was identified for the first time in chickpeas. However, m-hydroxybenzoic acid, taxifolin, and biochanin A were the main phenolics found. Biochanin A was mostly found in the free fraction, while m-hydroxybenzoic acid was present mainly in the insoluble-bound form. The insoluble-bound fraction made a significant contribution to the reducing power and antiradical activity towards peroxyl radical. Furthermore, all extracts decreased the oxidative damage of human HuH-7 cells induced by peroxyl radicals, thus indicating their hepatoprotective potential. This study demonstrates that the antioxidant properties and bioactive potential of insoluble-bound phenolics of chickpeas should not be neglected.