Ultra-processed foodstuffs have been replacing traditional beans with tortillas in the Mexican diet in the last decades. Therefore, scientific support is needed to promote a return to good-quality ...traditional dishes.
This study aims to evaluate the amino acid digestibility and score of pinto beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) consumed with corn tortillas and guacamole in adults using the dual-tracer method.
The pinto beans were intrinsically labeled using 250 mL of 2H2O (99.8%) per 19 L pot with 3 plants. A paste of cooked beans on toasted corn tortillas and guacamole topping were administered to 3 male and 3 female adults (21–25 years old; BMI, 19–23.5 kg/m2). The protocol was plateau feeding given along with U-13C-spirulina protein to evaluate indispensable amino acid (IAA) digestibility using the dual-tracer method. Blood samples were taken in the plateau state. The digestibility of each IAA of the bean protein was calculated by the ratio of its enrichment in the beans to the spirulina in the meal and its appearance in plasma collected in the plateau state, as a percentage corrected by spirulina digestibility. Additionally, the digestible IAA score (DIAAS) was calculated.
The 2H enrichment of IAA in the pinto beans was 471 parts per million excess. The isotopic enrichment of 2H and 13C in IAA at 5–8 hours presented plateau states with mean CVs of 12.2% and 13.3%, respectively. The mean digestibility of IAA from pinto beans was 77% ± 1.6%, with the lowest value for threonine. The DIAAS calculated with respect to the pattern requirement for children older than 3 years, adolescents, and adults was 83%, with methionine and cysteine being the limiting amino acids.
A Mexican dish of pinto beans, tortillas, and guacamole is a good source of protein as evaluated in adults and could be promoted as a nutritious snack. The assay is registered with the Ethical Committee of the Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C. as CE/015/2019.
This study describes the development of a new questionnaire to measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with type 1 diabetes (the ViDa1 questionnaire) and provides information on ...its psychometric properties. For its development, open interviews with patients took place and topics relevant to patients' HRQoL were identified and items were generated. Qualitative analysis of items, expert review, and refinement of the questionnaire followed. A pilot study (
= 150) was conducted to explore the underlying structure of the 40-item ViDa1 questionnaire. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed and six of the items that did not load on any of the factors were eliminated. The results supported a four-dimensional structure for ViDa1, the dimensions being Interference of diabetes in everyday life, Self-care, Well-being, and Worry about the disease. Subsequently, the PCA was repeated in a larger sample (
= 578) with the reduced 34-item version of the questionnaire, and a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was performed (
= 428). Overall fit indices obtained presented adequate values which supported the four-factor model initially proposed (Formula: see text 2601.93) (
< 0.001); Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.060 (CI = 0.056 -0.064). As regards reliability, the four dimensions of the ViDa1 demonstrated good internal consistency, with Cronbach's alphas ranging between 0.71 and 0.86. Evidence of convergent-discriminant validity in the form of high correlations with another specific HRQoL questionnaire for diabetes and low correlations with other constructs such as self-efficacy, anxiety, and depression were presented. The ViDa1 also discriminated between different aspects of clinical interest such as type of insulin treatment, presence of chronic complications, and glycemic control, temporal stability, and sensitivity to change after an intervention. In conclusion, the ViDa1 questionnaire presents adequate psychometric properties and may represent a good alternative for the evaluation of HRQoL in type 1 diabetes.
Despite the great advances in sequencing technologies, genomic and transcriptomic information for marine non-model species with ecological, evolutionary, and economical interest is still scarce. In ...this work we aimed to identify genes expressed during spermatogenesis in the functional hermaphrodite scallop Nodipecten subnodosus (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Pectinidae), with the purpose of obtaining a panel of genes that would allow for the study of differentially transcribed genes between diploid and triploid scallops in the context of meiotic arrest and reproductive sterility. Because our aim was to isolate genes involved in meiosis and other testis maturation-related processes, we generated suppressive subtractive hybridization libraries of testis vs. inactive gonad. We obtained 352 and 177 ESTs by clone sequencing, and using pyrosequencing (454-Roche) we maximized the identified ESTs to 34,276 reads. A total of 1,153 genes from the testis library had a blastx hit and GO annotation, including genes specific for meiosis, spermatogenesis, sex-differentiation, and transposable elements. Some of the identified meiosis genes function in chromosome pairing (scp2, scp3), recombination and DNA repair (dmc1, rad51, ccnb1ip1/hei10), and meiotic checkpoints (rad1, hormad1, dtl/cdt2). Gene expression analyses in different gametogenic stages in both sexual regions of the gonad of meiosis genes confirmed that the expression was specific or increased towards the maturing testis. Spermatogenesis genes included known testis-specific ones (kelch-10, shippo1, adad1), with some of these known to be associated to sterility. Sex differentiation genes included one of the most conserved genes at the bottom of the sex-determination cascade (dmrt1). Transcript from transposable elements, reverse transcriptase, and transposases in this library evidenced that transposition is an active process during spermatogenesis in N. subnodosus. In relation to the inactive library, we identified 833 transcripts with functional annotation related to activation of the transcription and translation machinery, as well as to germline control and maintenance.
The Pacific white shrimp Penaeus vannamei is the most cultured shrimp species around the world. Because females grow larger than males, the culture of ‘only females’ is of great interest, but ...knowledge on sex determination and differentiation is required for producing only females. In an effort to obtain information associated with reproduction in P. vannamei, transcriptomic data from female gonads was generated, and partial sequences of a transcript were identified as Sex-lethal (Sxl). Its characterization indicated that, differently from other penaeids in which this gene has been isolated, there are six isoforms of the Sxl transcript in P. vannamei (PvanSxl 1–6). These isoforms result from alternative splicing at three splice sites (SS1, SS2, SS3). The first splice-site is unique to P. vannamei, as it has not been reported for other Arthropod species; the second splice-site (SS2) is common among crustaceans, and the third splice-site (SS3) is also unique to P. vannamei and when spliced-out, it is always together with SS2. All isoforms are expressed during embryogenesis as well as gametogenesis of both genders. The two shorter isoforms, PvanSxl-5 and PvanSxl-6, which result from the splicing of SS2 and SS3, were found mostly expressed in adult testis, but PvanSxl-6 was also expressed in oocytes during gametogenesis. During oogenesis, the second largest isoform, PvanSxl-2, which splices-out only SS1, and PvanSxl-4 that splices-out SS1 and SS2 were highly expressed. These two isoforms were also highly expressed during embryonic development. In situ hybridization allowed pinpointing more specifically the cells where the PvanSxl transcripts were expressed. During embryogenesis, hybridization was observed from the one-cell stage embryo to late gastrula. In the female gonad in previtellogenesis, hybridization occurred in the nucleus of oocytes, whereas in secondary vitellogenesis the transcript also hybridized cytoplasmic granules and cortical crypts. Finally, in situ hybridization corroborated the expression of PvanSxl also in the male gonad during spermatogenesis, mostly occurring in the cytoplasm from spermatogonia and spermatocytes.
•PvanSxl was found expressed in both genders and during embryo development.•Multiple isoforms for the Sxl mRNA from Penaeus vannamei were found.•Four introns were located using Daphnia pulex Sxl gene.•Intron-retention results in unique PvanSxl isoforms not observed in any other species.•Cell-specific expression of PvanSxl was detected in male and female gonads.
The Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas is the most cultivated oyster species around the world. However, massive mortalities linked to high temperatures have been reported in different countries, ...becoming one of the most significant challenges for oyster culture. High mortality episodes have been reported also in Mexico due to temperature stress, mainly in Sonora and Baja California Sur. In this region, areas with shallow waters can reach 34 °C, causing severe physiological stress, mostly in juvenile oysters. Recently and as a strategy to address this problem in Mexico, a selective breeding program has been implemented, aiming to develop families with high survival at high temperatures through marker-aided selection. The objective of the present study was the identification of SNP markers from the transcriptome of families phenotypically different: thermo-resistant (‘R’) versus thermo-susceptible (‘S’) and analyzing whether these variants were present in transcripts potentially involved in thermal resistance. Several SNP variants were detected between ‘R’ and ‘S’ families, affecting multiple transcripts and molecular pathways. Four SNP markers provided accurate differentiation between ‘R’ and ‘S’ oysters. Additionally, 66 SNPs were suitable for pedigree reconstruction and sibling clustering. The discriminant SNPs were associated with changes in gene transcripts that were related to biological processes such as the activation of HSP90, zinc uptake, collagen biosynthesis, ion transport, and the immune response. The use of SNPs markers associated with thermo-resistant families can help to improve the yields in oyster production at high temperatures, especially in Mexico.
•Four SNP markers are provided for selection of thermo-resistant C. gigas oysters.•Additional SNPs (66) were useful for pedigree inference and sibling clustering.•These SNPs will allow for reduced mortalities of oysters at high temperature.•Discriminant SNPs were associated with changes in annotated gene transcripts.
The crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) family is an important group of neuropeptides involved in controlling growth, reproduction, and stress response in decapod species. In this study, a new ...gene containing 4 exons-3 introns flanked by canonical 5′-GT-AG-3′ intron splice-site junctions was isolated from Litopenaeus vannamei. Two full length transcripts of this CHH were isolated from eyestalk and pericardial tissue of males and females using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). Transcripts sequences were 1578bp in length in males pericardial tissues and in males and females eyestalk with 100% identity, but the transcript isolated from females pericardial tissues was shorter (974bp). The differences in transcripts length is a result of two polyadenylation sites present in the 3'UTR resulting in two transcription termination signals. Transcript sequences encoded one unique protein that can be classified as type I CHH subfamily because of the 4 exons and 3 introns structure, although the CPRP region is not-well conserved and there is no amidation in the C-terminal of the deduced amino acid sequence. Furthermore, there is a glycine inserted in the mature peptide not at position 12 as in type II CHHs but after amino acid 31 and the phylogenetic analysis did not group the peptide within type I, but closer to type II CHHs. We demonstrated by endpoint-PCR, qPCR, and in situ hybridization (ISH), that this gene is expressed in neuroendocrine organs known to express CHHs in penaeid shrimp, including X-organ and optic nerve in eyestalk, supraesophageal ganglion (SoG), but it is also expressed in other organs as gill, gut, pericardial cavity, as well as in terminal ampoule or spermatophore and vas deferens of males.
•We isolated a novel CHH gene from the Pacific White shrimp.•Phylogenetic analysis indicated it is not a strict type I or type II CHH.•Expressed in eyestalk, brain, heart, gills, gut, and males ductus deferens and spermatophore•It might function in osmoregulation, ion exchange and water uptake
Abalone is an extremely valuable food source derived from cultured and wild animals, the later from populations under intense fishing exploitation and of high conservation value. As part of a ...long-term study to characterize genes from abalone that can be used as markers for hybrids certification, we characterised 5S ribosomal DNA (5S rDNA) in red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) and blue abalone (H. fulgens). The 5S rDNA arrays occur to a single pair of metacentric chromosomes at interstitial positions in both species. Two types of 5S genes were found, named types I and II, each associated with different non-transcribed spacer (NTS) sequences. The structure of the 5S rRNA genes and the NTS indicate incomplete homogenisation of the 5S rDNA arrays. The divergence of the 5S genes between species provide polymorphisms which can be used to distinguish red from blue abalone in forensic analysis of commercial production.
•Two 5S genes with different NTS sequences were found in H. fulgens &H. rufescens.•Both gene type arrays occur at one interstitial position of a metacentric chromosome.•The not-transcribed-spacers (NTS) were found conserved between the two species.•Polymorphisms are potentially useful for forensic analysis of canned abalone.
The fem-1 gene in Caenorhabditis elegans is involved in sex differentiation; it is specifically required for all aspects of male development. In this study, the full-length cDNA of the fem-1 ...(Pvfem-1) gene was isolated from the Pacific whiteleg shrimp Penaeus vannamei. The Pvfem-1 transcript is 3778 nt long and encodes a putative protein (PvFEM-1) of 638 amino acids that presented eight ankyrin repeats. The translated protein showed a significant (P < 0.05) structural similitude by superposition with C. elegans FEM-1 protein. Pvfem-1 expression was evaluated by qPCR and in situ hybridization (ISH) during embryogenesis, larval development, and gonads of both genders in subadult and adult life stages. Pvfem-1 was found expressed in brain, intestine, hepatopancreas, and in the gonads of both genders in subadults and adults when quantified by RT-qPCR. A significant finding was the discovery of a natural antisense transcript (NAT) of Pvfem-1 by ISH. It was present in the oocyte nucleus of subadult female shrimp gonads but was not seen within oocytes from adult females, although it was detected in follicular cells, suggesting a possible post-transcriptional regulation of Pvfem-1 in female gonad. Conversely, in males, no NAT was observed, and Pvfem-1 was found expressed in spermatogonia of both, subadult and adult shrimps indicating a function in male sexual differentiation and gametes generation. This study represents the first step for future functional analysis that is expected to contribute to clarifying the role of Pvfem-1 in sex differentiation and determination.
•fem-1, a gene known to be linked to a sex-chromosome was characterized in shrimp.•During early development fem-1 was highly expressed in zygote and blastula.•A natural antisense transcript in female gonads might negatively regulate fem-1.•fem-1 sense transcript might have a role in male shrimp gonad sex-differentiation.
Monkeypox virus (MPXV) has gained interest because of a multicountry outbreak of mpox (formerly monkeypox) cases with no epidemiologic link to MPXV-endemic regions. We sequenced the complete genome ...of MPXV isolated from a patient in northern Mexico. Phylogenetic analysis grouped the virus with isolates from Germany.
Heat stress is one of the factors that affect aquaculture production of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas in Mexico, and research aiming to improve heat tolerance is required. C. gigas breeding ...stock, produced for genetic improvement, is being implemented, and breeding lines available with 50 families were characterized for their heat-tolerance, selecting the two-most heat-resistant and the two-most heat-susceptible families. These families were analyzed for differences in their DNA methylation patterns after maintaining them for 30 days in a regime of oscillating temperatures (26 °C to 34 °C), similar to what is found in culture areas of Mexico. Whereas no differences were found in global methylation among heat-phenotypes, differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were found between phenotypes. Temperature modifies the methylation in gene bodies of C. gigas, where the heat-resistant phenotype (RR) showed more genes with DMRs in promoters (3672), exons (6340), and introns (18,685). Hyper-methylated genes among phenotypes were more abundant in RR introns (122), followed by exons (23), and promoters (2), whereas hypo-methylated regions corresponded to ten in introns, three in exons, and one in promoters. Hyper-methylated DMRs were mostly found in genes associated with processes such as regulation of gene expression, ions interactions, metabolism, and production of cellular components. This suggests that DMRs among heat-phenotypes in C. gigas families are involved in the heat-shock stress response regulated by methylation. The DMRs reported in this study could be used as methylation markers for a future broodstock selection.
•Epigenetic marks associated to heat-resistant phenotypes.•Hyper-methylated regions were more abundant than hypo-methylated regions among heat-phenotypes.•Epigenetic variations occurred mainly in genes involved in catalytic activity and binding function among Crassostrea gigas families.
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