Elevated atmospheric CO alters the multi-element stoichiometry of pollen-bearing oak flowers, with possible negative effects on bees.

Increasing atmospheric CO levels change the elemental composition in plants, altering their nutritional quality and affecting consumers and ecosystems. Ecological stoichiometry provides a framework for investigating how CO-driven nutrient dilution in pollen affects bees by linking changes in pollen chemical element proportions to the nutritional needs of bees. We investigated the consequences of five years of Free Air CO Enrichment (FACE) in a mature oak-dominated temperate forest on the elemental composition of English oak (Quercus robur) pollen.

Elevated CO2 alters photosynthesis, growth and susceptibility to powdery mildew of oak seedlings.

Elevated CO2 (eCO2) is a determinant factor of climate change and is known to alter plant processes such as physiology, growth and resistance to pathogens. Quercus robur, a tree species integrated in most forest regeneration strategies, shows high vulnerability to powdery mildew (PM) disease at the seedling stage. PM is present in most oak forests and it is considered a bottleneck for oak woodland regeneration.

Identification of a novel mutation in the ANGPTL3 gene in two families diagnosed of familial hypobetalipoproteinemia without APOB mutation.

Background: Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia (FHBL), characterized by extremely low levels of plasma apolipoprotein (apo) B and cholesterol associated with low-density lipoproteins (LDLc), is considered to be an autosomal co-dominant disorder of heterogeneous origin. The main genetic disorder associated with FHBL consists of mutations in the APOB gene, while other less frequent forms are associated with mutations in NPC1L1, PCSK9, a still unidentified gene in 3p21.1-22 and, more recently, in ANGPTL3.

[Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) families. Relation with serotypes and clinical site of infection].

PspA, a pneumococcal surface protein, is highly immunogenic and common to all serotypes. Although pspA gene shows a great heterogeneity at the N-terminal region, PspA protein has conserved epytopes which are able to elicit protective cross-reaction against various serotypes presenting different PspA. In spite of the high polimorfism of the PspA, three majority families can be identified.

[Serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from invasive infections at the Hospital de Niños of Santa Fe].

The serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae varies through time. The introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines showed a decreased prevalence of pneumococcal invasive isolates belonging to serotype 14 and an increase of serotypes not therein included. In 1993, the Hospital de Niños of Santa Fe began surveillance of the serotype distribution of invasive S.