Publications by authors named "Manuel Martinez Bueno"

Article Synopsis
  • Animals, particularly birds, use cosmetic substances like uropygial secretions in sexual selection and communication, which may involve pigments produced by symbiotic bacteria.
  • The study focuses on the spotless starling nestlings, revealing that the yellow secretion they use to stain their mouths is influenced by the microbiota present, particularly under varying oxidative conditions.
  • Results indicate that antioxidant supplementation enhances the complexity and diversity of the microbial community in the secretion, suggesting a connection between bacteria and the coloration of these cosmetic traits.
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The consumption of raw or smoked fish entails significant microbiological risks, including contamination by pathogens such as , which can cause severe foodborne illnesses. This study explores the preservative use of piscicolin CM22, a novel bacteriocin derived from the psychrotolerant strain CM22, in two types of edible coatings (EC): chitosan-based and fish gelatin-based. An initial in vitro characterization of the technological and antimicrobial properties of these ECs with and without bacteriocin was conducted.

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Fishmeal and fish oil have been the main sources of protein and fatty acid for aquaculture fish. However, their increasing price and low sustainability have led the aquafeed industry to seek sustainable alternative feedstuffs to meet the nutritional requirements of fish and improve their health and performance. Plant proteins have been successfully used to replace fishery derivatives in aquafeeds, but the presence of anti-nutritional substances is a potential drawback of this approach.

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Article Synopsis
  • Animal bacterial symbionts are established early in life through vertical and horizontal transmission, influenced by both physical and social environments, posing challenges in understanding social effects on bacterial communities in wild animals.
  • In a study involving Eurasian magpies and great spotted cuckoos, it was found that magpies raised in heterospecific nests had more diverse and richer bacterial communities compared to those in monospecific nests.
  • The research highlights how social interactions significantly impact the development of bacterial communities on bird skin, particularly during the nestling period, demonstrating the importance of these interactions in a brood parasite-host relationship.
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  • Bacteria in avian nests may affect nest odors, influencing how parasites detect their hosts through olfactory cues.
  • A study on 10 bird species revealed that the diversity of bacteria and their volatile compounds correlated with the intensity of ectoparasitism and nestling success.
  • Findings suggest that the microbial environment plays a significant role in both ectoparasite pressures and fledging outcomes, warranting further experimental research into these interactions.
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The heterogeneity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can be explained by epigenetic alterations that disrupt transcriptional programs mediating environmental and genetic risk. This study evaluated the epigenetic contribution to SLE heterogeneity considering molecular and serological subtypes, genetics and transcriptional status, followed by drug target discovery. We performed a stratified epigenome-wide association studies of whole blood DNA methylation from 213 SLE patients and 221 controls.

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Objective: Primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies and the occurrence of thrombotic events and pregnancy complications. Our study aimed to identify novel genetic susceptibility loci associated with PAPS.

Methods: We performed a genome-wide association study comprising 5,485 individuals (482 affected individuals) of European ancestry.

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  • Carnobacterium maltaromaticum is a type of lactic acid bacteria that can produce various bacteriocins, which are useful in biotechnological applications.
  • The study introduces a new strain, C. maltaromaticum CM22, isolated from a salmon gut, which produces a unique bacteriocin called piscicolin CM22.
  • This bacteriocin shows antimicrobial activity against certain harmful Gram-positive bacteria but is ineffective against Gram-negative species, suggesting potential for applications in the agri-food industry.
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Background: Some parasites use olfactory cues to detect their hosts and, since bacterial symbionts are partially responsible for animal odours, they could influence host parasitism. By autoclaving nest materials of hoopoe (Upupa epops) nests before reproduction started, we explored the hypothetical links between host-associated bacteria, volatiles and parasitism. During the nestling stage, we (i) estimated the level of ectoparasitism by chewing lice (Suborder Mallophaga) in adult hoopoe females and by Carnus haemapterus flies in nestlings, and (ii) characterized microbial communities and volatile profiles of nest environments (nest material and nest cavity, respectively) and uropygial secretions.

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Objectives: Primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies and the occurrence of thrombotic events and pregnancy complications. Our study aimed to identify novel genetic susceptibility loci associated with PAPS.

Methods: We performed a genome-wide association study comprising 5,485 individuals (482 affected individuals) of European ancestry.

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Microbes live within complex communities of interacting populations, either free-living in waters and soils or symbionts of animals and plants. Their interactions include the production of antimicrobial peptides (bacteriocins) to antagonize competitors, and these producers must carry their own immunity gene for self-protection. Whether other coexisting populations are sensitive or resistant to the bacteriocin producer will be key for the population dynamics within the microbial community.

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Traditional spontaneously fermented foods are well known for their sensory and safety properties, which is mainly due to their indigenous microflora. Within this group of food, Mediterranean dry-cured sausages stand out as a significant source of lactic-acid bacterial strains (LAB) with biotechnological properties, such as their antimicrobial activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the biodiversity of antagonistic LAB strains from different Andalusian traditional sausages, such as and .

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Article Synopsis
  • * Antimicrobial peptides like AS-48, a potent bacteriocin, show promise against various human pathogens due to their unique ability to disrupt bacterial membranes without relying on specific receptors.
  • * AS-48 has low toxicity and maintains effectiveness against antibiotic-resistant strains, demonstrating stability across different conditions and minimal impact on healthy eukaryotic cells, making it a strong candidate for treating a range of infections.
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The global demand for fish products is continuously increasing as the population grows, and aquaculture plays an important role in supplying this demand. However, industrial antibiotic misuse has contributed to the spread of antimicrobial resistance among pathogenic bacteria, therefore, several antibiotic alternatives have been proposed. In this study, we have analyzed the effects of -derived propyl propane thiosulfonate (PTSO) in European seabass juveniles' growth and performance.

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The use of phytogenic extracts is considered a sustainable strategy for the prevention of fish diseases, including as a potential option due to their variety of bioactive compounds. In this study, we analyzed the antibacterial and antiparasitic potential of propyl-propane-thiosulfinate (PTS) and propyl-propane-thiosulfonate (PTSO) from onions. The in vitro activity against , , and of both compounds was tested.

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Autophagy is a highly conserved metabolic pathway via which unwanted intracellular materials, such as unfolded proteins or damaged organelles, are digested. It is activated in response to conditions of oxidative stress or starvation, and is essential for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and other vital functions, such as differentiation, cell death, and the cell cycle. Therefore, autophagy plays an important role in the initiation and progression of tumors, including hematological malignancies, where damaged autophagy during hematopoiesis can cause malignant transformation and increase cell proliferation.

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Objectives: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a complex autoimmune disease that leads to significant worsening of quality of life and mortality. Flares appear unpredictably during the disease course and therapies used are often only partially effective. These challenges are mainly due to the molecular heterogeneity of the disease, and in this context, personalized medicine-based approaches offer major promise.

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Article Synopsis
  • SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to COVID-19, which manifests as severe respiratory issues and can result in death in about 5% of cases.
  • This study investigates how DNA methylation, a key process in immune regulation, affects the progression of COVID-19 through a comprehensive analysis of the genome.
  • Findings indicate that DNA methylation influences pathways linked to COVID-19 severity and that a combination of genetic and environmental factors may trigger severe inflammatory responses, particularly involving the cytokine IL-6.
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This study analyzes the potential use of an -derived compound, propyl propane thiosulfonate (PTSO), as a functional feed additive in aquaculture. Gilthead seabream () juveniles had their diet supplemented with this -derived compound (150 mg/kg of PTSO) and were compared with control fish. The effects of this organosulfur compound were tested by measuring the body weight and analyzing the gut microbiota after 12 weeks.

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  • A genome-wide study involving nearly 12,000 COVID-19 positive cases in Spain identified significant genetic variants linked to hospitalization, with specific loci associated with males (3p21.31, 21q22.11) and females (9q21.32 near TLE1).
  • A second phase combined data with an additional cohort, revealing two new risk loci (9p13.3, 19q13.12) related to candidate genes AQP3 and ARHGAP33, and confirmed earlier findings in males for some loci.
  • The analysis highlighted genetic differences in COVID-19 severity between sexes and ages, with more pronounced heritability in males, particularly those over
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  • Primary Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease that attacks salivary and tear glands, influenced by both environmental factors and genetics.
  • A study revealed a strong connection between specific genetic variations and autoantibodies in influencing gene expression related to the disease.
  • Researchers also found new genetic variants linked to Sjögren's that affect DNA methylation and gene regulation, enhancing our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of this condition.
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BackgroundThere is considerable variability in COVID-19 outcomes among younger adults, and some of this variation may be due to genetic predisposition.MethodsWe combined individual level data from 13,888 COVID-19 patients (n = 7185 hospitalized) from 17 cohorts in 9 countries to assess the association of the major common COVID-19 genetic risk factor (chromosome 3 locus tagged by rs10490770) with mortality, COVID-19-related complications, and laboratory values. We next performed metaanalyses using FinnGen and the Columbia University COVID-19 Biobank.

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The treatment and hospital-spread-control of methicillin-resistant (MRSA) is an important challenge since these bacteria are involved in a considerable number of nosocomial infections that are difficult to treat and produce prolonged hospitalization, thus also increasing the risk of death. In fact, MRSA strains are frequently resistant to all β-lactam antibiotics, and co-resistances with other drugs such as macrolides, aminoglycosides, and lincosamides are usually reported, limiting the therapeutical options. To this must be added that the ability of these bacteria to form biofilms on hospital surfaces and devices confer high antibiotic resistance and favors horizontal gene transfer of genetic-resistant mobile elements, the spreading of infections, and relapses.

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In their struggle for life, bacteria frequently produce antagonistic substances against competitors. Antimicrobial peptides produced by bacteria (known as bacteriocins) are active against other bacteria, but harmless to their producer due to an associated immunity gene that prevents self-inhibition. However, knowledge of cross-resistance between different types of bacteriocin producer remains very limited.

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