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

DNA-based molecular techniques are crucial for the precise identification of microorganisms. Despite their speed and sensitivity, specificity hinges on primer or probe design. The search for unique sequences in organisms’ genomes has various applications such as microorganism identification. There are published bioinformatic tools that employ the concept of in silico genomic subtractive hybridization analysis to identify species-specific/unique regions within a genome of interest. However, they use deprecated tools and program[1]ming languages that are not currently used in bioinformatics, some of them are specialized or difficult to obtain because the repositories, where these tools were hosted, are not public or the web servers are currently down. To address these issues, we implemented the in silico genomic subtractive hybridization idea in a user-friendly, open-source, freely available, easy-to-install command pipeline application written in Python (called Not-alike3). We designed PCR primers over the sequence of unique regions identified in the genomes of two Mucorales species, Rhizopus oryzae and Cuninghamlla bertholletiae, employing Not-alike3 command pipeline; we made specificity tests to challenge these primers and we observed that they were species-specific.

Ivermectin has been shown in vitro that reduces SARS-CoV-2 replication in infected cells through interactions with importins α, however, the exact mechanism of action is still unknown. The objective of this study was to analyze binding affinities of ivermectin, SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) and ORF6 proteins, to isoforms of human importins α using molecular docking methods. Crystallized structures of importins α from Protein Data Bank (PDB) and AlphaFold Protein Structure Database were used, viral proteins were modeled using AlphaFold 2. Molecular docking simulations were performed between human importin α isoforms, ivermectin, N and ORF6 proteins, employing Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno, FTDock and pyDockRST algorithms. Data obtained evidenced that viral proteins of SARS-CoV-2 and ivermectin showed favorable binding affinities to ARM2-ARM4 domains (major binding site), sharing binding affinities to the same active residues. These results suggest that ivermectin shares the same active site on the α-importins as the SARS-CoV-2 N and ORF6 proteins, demonstrating a potential molecular target for research in the development of new antiviral drugs against COVID-19.

The effect of lemongrass essential oil (Cymbopogon citratus) on the postharvest quality of strawberries was evaluated over 21 days of storage at 4°C. 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0% concentrations of lemongrass essential oil were employed, compared to a negative control and a positive control using Microdyn. Treatments with 1.5% and 2.0% essential oil were the most effective in preserving firmness, moisture content, and antioxidant activity, maintaining the visual freshness of the fruit. In contrast, treatments with 0.5% and 1.0% concentrations, as well as the negative control, showed a rapid loss of quality, with an increase in total soluble solids and reducing sugars. Antioxidant activity remained high in the treatments with 1.5% and 2.0%, suggesting that the essential oil slowed down oxidative processes. The results indicate that C. citratus essential oil at 1.5% and 2.0% concentrations are comparable to commercial preservatives like Microdyn, presenting itself as a natural alternative to increase the shelf life of fresh strawberries without resorting to synthetic chemicals. This approach has relevant implications for the fresh food industry in the pursuit of more sustainable preservation methods.

The objective of this research was to identify variables ofgrowth, production and microbial symbiotic activity inCrotalaria incana and Crotalaria pallida that, in response tothe stress caused by crude petroleum oil, manage to remove total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) from the soil and can be recommended as basic tools in biological technologies for the recovery of degraded soils in the Mexican humid tropics. Crotalaria species were subjected to induced crude petroleum oil contamination at doses of 3, 15, 30, and 45 g/kg in soil and a control treatment at 30 and 154 d of exposure. The results showed statistically significant differences (Duncan p ≤ 0.05) in the growth of the two legumes, with both species being tolerant. The increase in petroleum doses caused negative effects on dry matter production of C. incana and C. pallida. Colonization by Rhizobium spp. was stimulated by crude oil in soil and rhizosphere in both species. However, at day 154, the highest rates of TPH removal were induced at doses of 30 and 45 g/kg, respectively.

The continuous use of chemical fertilizers in agricultural fields causes soil degradation and environmental pollution, in addition to causing damage to human health. Nitrogen fertilizers are not very efficient, more than 50% of the applied N is lost by leaching, adsorption to soil particles or NH3 volatilization into the atmosphere; and its negative effect causes soil acidification, eutrophication of water bodies and loss of biodiversity in ecosystems. The use of biofertilizers based on nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria is a promising alternative for agricultural production, they are also a potential source of useful fertilization to replace chemical fertilizers and promote soil fertility. The objectives of the work were to compare the biofertilizer vs chemical fertilizer, and establish the best application site for the biofertilizer. Maize variety V-524 was planted in pots in a sandy loam soil, a 20% (v/v) solution of the biofertilizer was sprinkled every 8 days on the soil, foliar and, combined; control was without biofertilizer. Biochemical indicators of the plant and N soil were analyzed. According to the results obtained, cyanobacteria provide the nitrogen required by the plant; the growth rate of corn in treatment C/B was 1.09 times higher than treatment S/B. We conclude that cyanobacteria are an alternative for biological fertilization in maize cultivation, reducing the use of chemical fertilizer by up to 50%.

Este texto examina la evolución de la Ciudad Universitaria (CU) de la UNAM a través de la colección documental del arquitecto Javier Septién. La investigación revela cómo la morfología actual de CU se asemeja más a los planes de expansión de la década de 1970 que a los originales de 1952. Los documentos analizados abarcan estudios de población estudiantil, movilidad y propuestas de expansión, proporcionando una comprensión de la planificación y ejecución que configuraron la cu en respuesta a la creciente demanda educativa.

Creado en la década de 1950, el Museo Experimental El Eco fue concebido como una escultura habitable por su creador Mathias Goeritz. Incorporado al patrimonio universitario en 2004, El Eco ha funcionado como un centro para la experimentación y la reflexión sobre el arte; y, más recientemente, se ha propuesto generar proyectos interdisciplinarios que hagan énfasis en la integración del arte, la arquitectura y el diseño. Platicamos con Pablo Landa, su director, sobre las directrices que guiarán las nuevas narrativas del espacio.

Este ensayo presenta «El partido arquitectónico… bordado», un ejercicio realizado durante el otoño de 2023 en el Taller Max Cetto de la Facultad de Arquitectura de la UNAM (fa) para profundizar en el entendimiento de lo que es el partido arquitectónico de un proyecto, y para explorar el bordado como técnica para representar y narrar la arquitectura. Además de exponer el contexto en el que se desarrolló el ejercicio, el texto expone el proceso, los resultados y las reflexiones posteriores.

Memorias en el espacio doméstico es un proyecto apoyado por el Sistema Nacional de Creadores de Arte el cual invita a profundizar en los conceptos de espacio doméstico y memoria a través de un enfoque que traspasa los límites autoimpuestos del corsé disciplinario de la arquitectura. Una ventana a través de la cual mirar, desde la realidad y el arte, nuestras costumbres en relación al espacio en el que vivimos, atendiendo a las emociones y los aspectos más sublimes de nuestra existencia y no únicamente al pragmatismo funcional.

En esta conversación, Paola Antonelli, actual curadora en jefe del Departamento de Arquitectura y Diseño del Museum of Modern Art de Nueva York (MoMA), nos comparte sus puntos de vista en torno al diseño y su perspectiva acerca de qué y cómo mostrar los objetos de la vida cotidiana en el museo.