Universitas Scientiarum - Ciencias
- Universitas Scientiarum is an multi-disciplinary & inter-disciplinary journal that offers prompt publication of original theoretical and experimental papers related to all branches of science. The scope extends to, but is no restricted to: mathematics & statistics, physics, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, natural history, genetics & evolution, taxonomy & systematics, biodiversity, biogeography, ecology and conservation biology.
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Environmental factors affect nearly all land areas on the planet. Global warming is one of the most
destructive of these factors because it has adverse effects on crop production systems. Plants are sessile organisms that have evolved complex mechanisms to cope with stress factors. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are one of those mechanisms. In this study, we analyzed a partial gene sequence that encodes for HSP70 protein in Vasconcellea pubescens. We also measured the relative expression of the gene in plantlets of Vasconcellea pubescens and performed biochemical assays under heat stress. The plantlets were exposed to three temperatures 25° C (control), 45 °C and 55 °C (stress temperatures) for 4 hours.
The bioinformatic analysis led to the first description of a partial sequence of the HSP70 gene and its evolutionary history in V. pubescens. We found significant differences for relative expression of the HSP70 gene, percentage of electrolyte leakage, and proline content between plants subjected to heat stress and those in the control group. Our results showed that V. pubescens displays thermotolerance even under extreme temperatures. V. pubescens is a poorly studied species that may contain genes of biotechnological interest (such as HSP70) that could be used for plant genetic modification.
The use of a novel and powerful technology that allows for the precise editing of the genetic material of various organisms is becoming widespread. This technology derives from bacterial and archaeal defense machinery and is called CRISPR Cas9. Unlike other gene editing tools that exclusively rely on proteins, CRISPR Cas9 utilizes interactions between the target DNA and an RNA sequence that guides the Cas9 enzyme to alter the structure of a target gene. Various genome locations can be edited thanks to the ease of programming different guide RNA sequences, facilitating its use and implementation. Furthermore, the non-active version of the Cas9 protein, guided by its corresponding RNA, can be utilized for visualization processes of genetic material or, more recently, for the regulation of the transcription process. Considering the recent advances and possibilities in biomedical and biotechnological research, we must understand that the exploration of this technology is just beginning, and its eventual applications will influence the world around us on multiple levels. In this review, we describe the biological foundations of the functioning of the Cas9 nuclease, together with selected applications of its use in editing and regulating specific sections of the genetic material of various organisms. We also discuss some bioethical issues surrounding this subject.
In eutrophic environments, aquatic weeds reproduce rapidly, occupying extensive areas of the water body and preventing the multiple use of water resources. The use of the biomass of these plants in vermicomposting represents a sustainable alternative utilization of the excess biomass produced by eutrophication. The enrichment of macrophyte biomass during vermicomposting was tested using an inorganic solution (NPK 1.75 % and NPK 3.50 %) and an organic solution with glucose (0.25 g/L and 0.50 g/L) to improve the quality of the vermicompost. The consumption of biomass of the macrophytes by the Eisenia fetida increased as the vermicomposting progressed, reaching the highest values at the end of the experimental period. The control treatment, i.e., without earthworms, remained stable.
The electrical conductivity tended to increase for the treatments NPK 1.75 %, Glucose 0.25 g/L and Glucose 0.50 g/L. The pH of the vermicomposting tended to be neutral in all treatments. The control and inorganic treatments showed a reduction in macrophyte biomass and the number of individuals of Eisenia fetida. The additions of NPK and glucose slightly improved vermicompost quality and biomass consumption by the earthworms. However, using vermicompost alone does not meet the requirements for its use as a fertilizer. Thus, we suggest the use of vermicompost in association with other fertilizers, adding moisture and structuring the soil.
In this study, we aimed to determine the extent of genetic variation among cubios (Tropaeolum tuberosum) in a diversity micro-center in the department of Boyacá, Colombia, with morphological and ISSR (Inter Simple Sequence Repeats) molecular markers. Twenty-five cubio morphotypes were collected across different farms within the municipalities of Belén and Ventaquemada in Boyacá and were sown for subsequent morphological and molecular characterizations. Tuber features were evaluated according to descriptors of the International Potato Center, namely predominant tuber surface color, secondary tuber surface color, secondary tuber surface color distribution, predominant tuber pulp color, secondary tuber pulp color, distribution of secondary tuber pulp color, tuber shape, and depth of tuber eyes. Molecular variation was assessed via eight ISSR primers. Morphological and molecular characterizations allowed us to identify 25 cubio morphotypes with significant genetic variation in the study area. This finding is likely attributed to mechanisms maintaining genetic variability, such as naturally occurring crosses between morphotypes modulated by environmental conditions and local agricultural practices, including seed exchange and a preference for given morphotypes.
One of the leading diseases affecting laying poultry in Argentina is fowl typhoid, caused by the pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum (S. Gallinarum). Although this disease was eradicated from industrial hatcheries in several developed countries, it is still present in commercial farms in Latin America, causing substantial economic losses due to high mortality rates, limited production of quality eggs, high veterinary costs, and the need to renovate infected facilities. To develop a new S. Gallinarum biocontrol method, in the present study, we characterized a bacteriophage in terms of host specificity, growth kinetics, and stability under different environmental conditions. The phage could infect an ample range of bacterial hosts and had no lytic activity against the vaccine strain 9R. Moreover, the phage was stable at pH 3, chloroform presence did not significantly reduce its titer, and its activity was
not affected by antibiotics or various chemical agents often used in aviculture. Application of a phage suspension on S. Gallinarum-contaminated surfaces resulted in a significant reduction of bacterial load (p < 0.05). These results show that lytic bacteriophages such as the one studied here are innovative alternatives with potential applications to control S. Gallinarum in laying poultry farms.