Daily and seasonal variations ofAlternaria andCladosporium airborne spores in León (North-West, Spain)

The spores ofAlternaria andCladosporium are present throughout the year in the atmosphere of León (NW Spain), although they show an important seasonal variation. To understand the relationship between the number of spores and climatic factors,Alternaria andCladosporium spores counts for January 1994 to December 1995 were examined by means of correlation analyses. The results of weekly samples of both years showed that the spores concentration of two taxa are significantly and positively correlated with maximum and minimum temperature and sunshine hours and negatively with relative humidity. The statistical analysis of daily samples generally showed the same results. In the hourly distribution of spore concentrations we can see a similar behaviour ofAlternaria andCladosporium, with most spores collected in the 12–14 h period.     

A new species of Gynoxys (Asteraceae: Senecioneae) from northern Peru

Gynoxys dilloniana from northern Peru is described and illustrated, and its taxonomic relationships discussed.     

Determination of the biosorption heats of heavy metal ions on Zoogloea ramigera and Rhizopus arrhizus

The biosorption of Fe(III), Cr(VI), Pb(II), Cu(II) and Ni(II) ions on Zoogloea ramigera (activated sludge bacterium) and Rhizopus arrhizus (filamentous fungus) has been studied as a function of initial metal ion concentration and temperature. The applicability of the Langmuir model for each metal-microorganism system has been tested at different temperatures. The enthalpy change for the biosorption process has been evaluated by using the Langmuir constant b, related to the energy of adsorption. Thermodynamic parameters indicate the exothermic nature of Cu(II) and Ni(II) biosorption on both microorganisms. Fe(III), Cr(VI) and Pb(II) biosorption is determined to be an endothermic process since increased binding occurs as the temperature is increased in the range 15-45 degrees C.     

Effect of lactose and glycerol on the motility, normal apical ridge, chromatin condensation and chromatin stability of frozen boar spermatozoa

The effect of lactose and glycerol concentration, as well as the equilibration time with glycerol was studied on motility, normal apical ridge (NAR), and chromatin state of boar spermatozoa after the freezing and thawing process. In the first experiment, samples were frozen in first and second extenders containing different concentrations of lactose (11, 12 and 14%). In the second experiment samples were frozen using second extenders with different concentrations of glycerol (4, 6, 8 and 10%) and were incubated at 5 degrees C for 0 and 30 min. Motility, motility after caffeine treatment, NAR, chromatin condensation and stability (susceptibility to de-condense after heparin treatment) were evaluated. The results indicated that freezing spermatozoa in extenders with increasing concentrations of lactose adversely affected motility but provided a protective effect on acrosomes. Increased lactose concentration induced higher chromatin condensation but maintained the same stability. Increasing the glycerol concentration in the second extender from 4-6 to 8% led to higher motility and NAR as well as lower chromatin condensation and stability. When 30 min equilibration time was allowed after dilution with the same extenders, spermatozoa showed higher NAR and lower chromatin condensation and stability. The longer equilibration time was detrimental for motility when freezing in the 8% glycerol extender but favourable when using the 4% glycerol extender. Compared to the 8% glycerol, spermatozoa frozen in the 10% glycerol extender showed similar motility and increased chromatin condensation and stability, as well as low values of NAR that did not improve by longer incubation time.     

Revision of the dioecious genus chersodoma phil. (Senecioneae,Asteraceae), including a new species and status change

A revision of the dioecious genus Chersodoma (Senecioneae, Asteraceae) recognizes nine species, including a new species, C. deltoidea Sagást. & M. O. Dillon, from northern Peru and a status change for a northwestern Argentine endemic, C. glabriuscula (Cabrera) M. O. Dillon & Sagást. Chersodoma is confined to the Andean Cordillera and is the only dioecious member of the Senecioneae in continental South America. A cladistic analysis of a morphological data set supports the monophyly of the genus and the recognition of two previously established subgenera. Subgenus Chersodoma contains three species (C. argentina, C. candida, C. jodopappa) with greatest diversity in the semi-arid puna of northwestern Argentina and adjacent Bolivia and Chile. Subgenus Diclinanthus B. Nord., contains six species (C. antennaria, C. arequipensis, C. deltoidea, C. juanisernii, C. glabriuscula, and C. ovopedata) with greatest diversity in Peru. A key to Andean genera of Senecioneae is provided. A discussion of species relationships and historical biogeography is presented as suggested by morphological parsimony analysis.     

New species of llerasia (Asteraceae: Astereae) from Peru

Two new species from Peru,Llerasia pascoensis Sagást. & Dillon andLl. sanmartinensis Sagást. & Dillon are described and illustrated, and their relationships discussed. A key to the Peruvian species ofLlerasia is presented. Also, a notable range extension into northern Peru is reported forLl. lindenii Triana, a species previously known only from Colombia and Ecuador.     

Additions to South American Senecioneae (Asteraceae)

Three new Peruvian species belonging to the tribe Senecioneae (Asteraceae) are described, illustrated and their relationships discussed:Gynoxys colanensis, G. lopezii, andPentacalia barbourii.     

Candida Endocarditis in Patients with Candidemia: A Single-Center Experience of 14 Cases

Mycopathologia - A retrospective, single-center analysis of 14 cases of Candida endocarditis (from 355 candidemia cases during the years 2012–2019) revealed a high in-hospital mortality...     

Nematophagous fungi used for the biological control of gastrointestinal nematodes in livestock and administration routes

The control of gastrointestinal nematodes relies at present mostly on antihelmintic treatments using synthetic molecules. This approach, however, has led to the appearance of resistance to some types of antihelmintics which, together with the need to cut down on the use of chemicals, has fostered the development of other control methods, such as biological control, which is the use of living organisms that are naturally antagonistic to an unwanted species. Among the natural enemies of nematode parasitic larvae is the microfungus Duddingtonia flagrans. Research has shown the ability of this fungus to reduce the number of nematode larvae in faeces, the ability of its chlamydospores to survive the passage through the gastrointestinal tract of livestock and, moreover, to keep its germinative ability, thus facilitating the development of formulations. The present review looks at the species currently used and the different ways of administering already tested nematophagous fungi.     

Adenosine A2B receptor blockade slows growth of bladder and breast tumors

The accumulation of high levels of adenosine in tumors activates A(2A) and A(2B) receptors on immune cells and inhibits their ability to suppress tumor growth. Deletion of adenosine A(2A) receptors (A(2A)ARs) has been reported to activate antitumor T cells, stimulate dendritic cell (DC) function, and inhibit angiogenesis. In this study, we evaluated the effects of intermittent intratumor injection of a nonselective adenosine receptor antagonist, aminophylline (AMO; theophylline ethylenediamine) and, for the first time to our knowledge, a selective A(2B)AR antagonist, ATL801. AMO and ATL801 slowed the growth of MB49 bladder and 4T1 breast tumors in syngeneic mice and reduced by 85% metastasizes of breast cancer cells from mammary fat to lung. Based on experiments with A(2A)AR(-/-) or adenosine A(2B) receptor(-/-) mice, the effect of AMO injection was unexpectedly attributed to A(2B)AR and not to A(2A)AR blockade. AMO and ATL801 significantly increased tumor levels of IFN-γ and the IFN-inducible chemokine CXCL10, which is a ligand for CXCR3. This was associated with an increase in activated tumor-infiltrating CXCR3(+) T cells and a decrease in endothelial cell precursors within tumors. Tumor growth inhibition by AMO or ATL801 was eliminated in CXCR3(-/-) mice and RAG1(-/-) mice that lack mature T cells. In RAG1(-/-) mice, A(2B)AR deletion enhanced CD86 expression on CD11b(-) DCs. Bone marrow chimera experiments demonstrated that CXCR3 and A(2B)AR expression on bone marrow cells is required for the antitumor effects of AMO. The data suggest that blockade of A(2B)ARs enhances DC activation and CXCR3-dependent antitumor responses.