North and South: Exploring isotopic analysis of bone carbonates and collagen to understand post-medieval diets in London and northern England

Objectives

We evaluate the potential of paired isotopic analysis of bone carbonate and collagen to examine the diet of post-medieval human and animal populations from England (17th–19th c.), including, for the first time, manufacturing towns in northern England. The potential for identifying C₄ crop consumption is explored alongside regional and local patterning in diet by sex and socioeconomic status.

Materials and Methods

Humans (n = 216) and animals (n = 168) were analyzed from sites in London and northern England for both carbon and nitrogen isotopes of bone collagen (𝛿¹³C_coll, 𝛿¹⁵N_coll). Isotopic analysis of bone carbonates (𝛿¹³C_carb, 𝛿¹⁸O_carb) was carried out on all humans and 27 animals, using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy–attenuated total reflectance to assess diagenesis.

Results

Variations in diet were observed between and within different populations by geographical location and socioeconomic status. Three pigs and one cow consumed C₄ resources, indicating the availability of C₄-fed animal protein. Londoners consumed more animal and marine protein and C₄ resources. Middle- and upper-class populations from both London and northern populations also had greater access to these foods compared to those of lower status in the same regions.

Discussion

This substantial multi-isotope dataset deriving from bone carbonate and collagen combined from diverse post-medieval urban communities enabled, for the first time, the biomolecular identification of the dynamics of C₄ consumption (cane sugar/maize) in England, providing insight into the dynamics of food globalization during this period. We also add substantially to the animal dataset for post-medieval England, providing further insight into animal management during a key moment of agricultural change.

     

The first head-tailed virus,MFTV1, infecting hyperthermophilic methanogenic deep-sea archaea

Deep-sea hydrothermal vents are inhabited by complex communities of microbes and their viruses. Despite the importance of viruses in controlling the diversity, adaptation and evolution of their microbial hosts, to date, only eight bacterial and two archaeal viruses isolated from abyssal ecosystems have been described. Thus, our efforts focused on gaining new insights into viruses associated with deep-sea autotrophic archaea. Here, we provide the first evidence of an infection of hyperthermophilic methanogenic archaea by a head-tailed virus, Methanocaldococcus fervens tailed virus 1 (MFTV1). MFTV1 has an isometric head of 50 nm in diameter and a 150 nm-long non-contractile tail. Virions are released continuously without causing a sudden drop in host growth. MFTV1 infects Methanocaldococcus species and is the first hyperthermophilic head-tailed virus described thus far. The viral genome is a double-stranded linear DNA of 31 kb. Interestingly, our results suggest potential strategies adopted by the plasmid pMEFER01, carried by M. fervens, to spread horizontally in hyperthermophilic methanogens. The data presented here open a new window of understanding on how the abyssal mobilome interacts with hyperthermophilic marine archaea.     

Sub-state nationalism in Spain: primers and triggers of identity politics in Catalonia and the Basque Country

This article builds on recent attempts to explain divergent uses of sub-state nationalism to push for policies of assimilation or multiculturalism and drive popular support for independence. It analyses the dynamics of discourses and policies in Spain before, during and after peak times of identity politics to provide a more nuanced understanding of the conditions leading to the activation of identity-driven policies. Substantive ethnographic evidence is presented to explain recent alterations to national discourses of identity, surprising reversals of immigration policies, and the modulation of Catalan and Basque independence movements. The main finding is that both identity discourses and resulting policies depend on the affinity for identity politics at the sub-state level, and this affinity is in large part primed by the popular perception of how secure sub-state national identity is against the ‘official’ state narrative.     

Antimicrobial and antiviral activity-guided fractionation from Scutia buxifolia Reissek extracts

Antimicrobial and antiviral activities of the fractions from Scutia buxifolia stem bark and leaves were evaluated. Best antimicrobial results occurred with the ethyl acetate (EA) and n-butanolic (NB) fractions from the leaves against Micrococcus sp. (minimal inhibitory concentration—MIC = 62.5 μg/ml), and NB fraction from stem bark and leaves against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterococcus faecalis (MIC = 62.5 μg/ml). The most active fractions were selected and fractioned into silica column to perform an in vitro antibiofilm assay, which evidenced subfractions EA2 and EA3 as the more active against Candida albicans (biofilm inhibitory concentration—BIC = 582 ± 0.01 μg/ml) and Staphylococcus aureus (BIC = 360 ± 0.007 μg/ml), respectively. The NB (selectivity index—SI = 25.78) and the EA (SI = 15.97) fractions from the stem bark, and the EA (SI = 14.13) fraction from the leaves exhibited a potential antiviral activity towards Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 whereas EA2 and EA3 subfractions from leaves (SI = 12.59 and 10.06, respectively), and NB2 subfraction from stem bark (SI = 12.34) maintained this good activity. Phenolic acids and flavonoids (gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, isoquercitrin, quercitrin and quercetin) were identified by HPLC and may be partially responsible for the antimicrobial and antiherpes activities observed. The results obtained in this study showed that Scutia buxifolia has antibiofilm and anti-herpetic activities and that these properties are reported for the first time for this species.     

Phospholipase A2 Sensitive Liposomes for Delivery of Small Interfering RNA (siRNA)

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is potent and highly specific for gene silencing and there is currently a lot of enthusiasm for developing siRNA into a drug. However, for most therapeutic applications of siRNA, delivery systems are needed. These delivery systems have multiple requirements and should on one hand ideally be stable carriers protecting the siRNA from degradation and on the other hand assist the siRNA in overcoming membrane barriers for intracellular delivery to the cytosol. Long-circulating liposomes, which are sensitive to secretory phospholipase A₂ (sPLA₂) are feasible delivery systems for systemic administration of drugs due to their passive targeting to pathological tissue via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect and their site-specific, enzyme-triggered release of encapsulated drug in response to sPLA₂ which exists locally at elevated levels at, e.g,. sites of inflammation. However, recent data suggest that endosomal membrane destabilizing approaches could be addressed to design sPLA₂-sensitive liposomes as successful delivery systems for siRNA to the RNA interference pathway in the cytoplasm upon systemic administration.