Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

Interferons constitute a family of proteins involved in antiviral, immunomodulatory, and antiinflammatory activities. In the last years, the study of interferons in the cancer context has increased, and one of the most important findings is that interferons are part of the tumor microenvironment. The interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) is one of the members of the interferons family and has protumoral and antitumoral functions depending on the type of cancer and tumoral microenvironment. In this review, we discussed the elements of the canonical transduction pathway of IFN-γ and their implications for the study of malign neoplasms. Studies suggest that the elements of the pathway activated by IFN-γ could be useful as biomarkers and/or therapy targets against cancer. 

Octocoral-associated bacterial assemblages provide them with defensive strategies through production of antimicrobial compounds, protecting against pathogenic microorganisms by avoiding colonization by other microorganisms. Due to the decrease in the discovery of new compounds in terrestrial environments, the potential of marine bacterial strains represents a source of novel bioactive compounds. Our objective was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the bacterial strains of Bacillus australimaris and those of Pseudoalteromonas sp. isolated from the octocoral Leptogorgia alba from shallow and mesophotic areas, to determine the degree of capacity they have to inhibit the growth of human and aquaculture pathogens, for which cross-streak tests, agar diffusion by drop, well diffusion, disk diffusion, growth on cellulose and polystyrene microplate were used. Antagonism of B. australimaris was evident towards pathogens Escherichia coli, Listonella anguillarum, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus iniae, and Vibrio campbellii. For its part, Pseudoalteromonas sp. prevented the development of the pathogens E. coli, L. anguillarum, L. monocytogenes, S. iniae, and V. campbellii. The results of this work show that bacteria associated with gorgonid organisms are a potential biotechnological resource in antimicrobial activity.

La biología sintética tiene como objetivo desarrollar células con funciones totalmente nuevas y que no se encuentran en su naturaleza. Estas funciones se manifiestan a través de rutas creadas a partir de genes provenientes de otros microorganismos vinculados por técnicas moleculares como el ensamblaje de Bio-Brick. Algunos de estos enlaces pueden adoptar un comportamiento booleano y generar lo que se conoce como un circuito genético, compuesto principalmente por las partes funcionales de un gen (Promotor, RBS, ORF, Terminador). Estas piezas intercambiables forman lo que se conoce como Bio-Brick, que actúa como una puerta lógica al mostrar una estabilidad excelente y una memoria genética que perdura después de varias generaciones. Por los distintos tipos de comportamiento que presentan los Bio-Bricks, son muy atractivos para la industria, ya que con solo elegir un tipo de circuito sus aplicaciones son diversas, por ejemplo en la industria biomédica para (medicamentos contra el cáncer, la malaria, anticuerpos específicos e ingeniería del microbioma), o en la industria energética para (generar biocombustibles de segunda generación que compitan eficazmente con los combustibles fósiles; también se ha descubierto que por su utilidad en diferentes ámbitos, representa una solución a problemas como las altas emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero o la actual pandemia provocada por la aparición del SARS-CoV-2.

Aflatoxins (AFs) are natural contaminants of agricultural products and other food, produced by the filamentous fungi Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus. Warm and humid environmental conditions favor its development and production. The AFs get inside the organism throughout the intake of contaminated food or indirectly throughout the consumption of products as milk, meat and eggs, among others, derived from animals exposed to diets with AFs. They are stable at temperatures above 100°C, with less or null decomposition during pasteurization, roasting and baking processes. They have an important carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic potential, having an impact on human and animal health and are consider as toxic and lethal. Aflatoxins are classified as AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2. Once ingested, their metabolism in the liver causes the highly reactive metabolite AFB1-exo-8, 9 epoxide (AFBO), responsible for acute or chronic toxicity inside the organism, and two hydroxylated metabolites AFM1 and AFM2, which are eliminated throughout human and animal milk. AFs mainly cause liver damage and tumor induction. This article addresses the matter of AFs from its chemical composition, classification, mechanism of toxicity, contaminated food and damage to human and animal health, highlighting the need to establish standardized regulations among countries that contribute to guarantee the cultivation, import and export of food products and grains free of AFs, safe for human and animal consumption.

The residues generated by coffee fruit processing (husk, pulp, skin or silverskin), and by the beverage preparation (spent coffee), are an important source of nutrients and whose extraction is a potential strategy for the obtaining of new food additives, reason for this work to present a compilation of the results of the studies on its nutrients, its bioactive compounds, the extraction of these compounds, the evaluation of its antioxidant activity and its possible application in fresh meat and in meat products. According to the studies carried out, coffee residues (flours and extracts) contain phenolic compounds such as phenolic acids and flavonoids, with antioxidant activity (anti-radical and reducing power). Bioactive compounds are obtained by conventional (maceration and Soxhlet), unconventional (high hydrostatic pressure, microwave, and ultrasound) and biotechnological (fungal fermentation) methods. It is also shown that both the flours and the extracts of these residues have a positive effect on the oxidative stability of meat (pork, lamb, and chicken) and meat products (hamburgers and sausages).

Podaxis pistillaris s.l. is a gasteroid fungus distributed in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. It is used in traditional medicine to treat dermatological problems, as food and for aesthetic purposes by some indigenous tribes, however, knowledge about its proximate composition and antibacterial potential is scarce in the literature. In the present study the proximate composition was evaluated, as well as the antimicrobial activity in Streptococcus agalactiae and Candida albicans using the disk diffusion method and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC); the in vitro mycelial growth in five culture media and three different pH, for the growth of Podaxis pistillaris. The results show that the carpophorus of the species is rich in proteins (15.2%) and carbohydrates (28.6%) and low in lipid content (0.5%). In addition, it presented growth inhibition in both microorganisms with the MIC technique at a concentration of 8.75 mg / mL for C. albicans and 6.25 mg / mL for S. agalactiae. In vitro mycelial growth was better when using Corn and Oat Agar at a pH of 7.0. This research reports the first proximate and antimicrobial study of a species with medical-nutritional potential from northern Chihuahuan desert.

For years, it was considered that the most important function of mitochondria was to provide the cell with energy in the form of ATP or even to function as a buffer of the cytosolic calcium concentration. However, it has been shown that mitochondria are a key part of signaling cascades or either, they establish shared functions with intra- and extracellular structures, allowing to maintain homeostasis and cell function. In addition, there are several reports showing that healthy cells are capable of transferring mitochondria to the bloodstream or to damaged cells with the aim of providing protection or to improve their bioenergetic condition under specific conditions. The signaling mechanisms for the recognition of marker molecules are decisive to establish the transfer of mitochondria between cells through vesicular structures or tunnels (TNT), among other systems. Currently, it has been developed strategies for mitochondrial isolation, which in turn, are injected into the tissues allowing their functional recovery, opening the door to what has been called “mitochondrial medicine” or “mitocure”. Although these findings suggest that mitochondria could be a new prophylactic method for diseases or metabolic disorders, it is also necessary to analyze mitochondrial transfer may not always be positive for the organism in certain ailments.

Sulfur (S) is considered an essential nutrient for “LIVING BEINGS”, there are few studies that comprehensively analyze the dynamics of S in the soil and the role of microorganisms in the transformation of molecules with S. This review aims to analyze two key processes of S dynamics in soil: mineralization and immobilization. These processes are critical in the soil bioavailability of S and are carried out by the soil microbial community (CMS). All of the above, in order for the reader to acquire a comprehensive vision of mineralization and immobilization processes of S and notice the importance of these processes for the appropriate soil management.

Sentimental relationships in adolescents of foreign origin involve a process of negotiation between values, norms and prescriptions of two societies, which can lead to cultural conflicts. This study analyses the narratives about relationships and the cultural and religious tensions generated in 25 students of Moroccan origin, aged 15-19. The results reveal a heterogeneous, but mostly liberal, understanding of relationships, where virtuality and instability prevail, in which Moroccan family values persist. A diversity of discourses is described with regard to love and the couple, although marriage, monogamy and fidelity are maintained. Young Muslims, mostly men, maintain a positive view of jealousy linked to a culture of honour. They manifest a construction of gender in the couple in conflict between liberal and traditional forms in Moroccan women, while men express traditional forms of masculinity. They also report cultural and religious conflicts over (1) sexuality, especially in relation to virginity; and (2) the conception of gender roles in the couple and macho violence within the family. In these aspects, a triple culture shock is observed: within the family, with the community of origin and with the Spanish community. These aspects should be considered for the cross-cultural adaptation of teen dating violence prevention programmes.

Several research studies have investigated the relationship between students’ satisfaction and cultural environment given that university students are more persuaded to act pro environmentally as they partake in different activities, debates on the global crisis. This study focuses on international students’ satisfaction on-campus cultural environment, living, learning experience about the quality of education and available facilities. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional systemic survey where n=119 foreign students were targeted for data collection using the strategy of non-probability convenience sampling. For data processing, SPSS v 22.0 was adopted and P≤0.05 was considered statically significant. In order to explore the relationship between variables, the Kruskal-Wallis H and Mann Whitney U tests were carried out.  The results show that high level of foreign students’ satisfaction for adequate accommodation, influence of Chinese culture and quality of education. This study evaluated that the overall better level of satisfaction in cultural, living, standard of education, learning system, cost of accommodation, and sports. Moreover, these findings will also be helpful to the policy makers of higher education, administrators pertinent to educational governance.