Tridimensional cultures of human induced pluripotent cells (iPSCs) experimentally directed to neural differentiation, termed "brain organoids" are now employed as an
assay that recapitulates early ...developmental stages of nervous tissue differentiation. Technical progress in culture methodology enabled the generation of regionally specialized organoids with structural and neurochemical characters of distinct encephalic regions. The technical process of organoid elaboration is undergoing progressively implementation, but current robustness of the assay has attracted the attention of psychiatric research to substitute/complement animal experimentation for analyzing the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. Numerous morphological, structural, molecular and functional insights of psychiatric disorders have been uncovered by comparing brain organoids made with iPSCs obtained from control healthy subjects and psychiatric patients. Brain organoids were also employed for analyzing the response to conventional treatments, to search for new drugs, and to anticipate the therapeutic response of individual patients in a personalized manner. In this review, we gather data obtained by studying cerebral organoids made from iPSCs of patients of the three most frequent serious psychiatric disorders: schizophrenia, major depression disorder, and bipolar disorder. Among the data obtained in these studies, we emphasize: (i) that the origin of these pathologies takes place in the stages of embryonic development; (ii) the existence of shared molecular pathogenic aspects among patients of the three distinct disorders; (iii) the occurrence of molecular differences between patients bearing the same disorder, and (iv) that functional alterations can be activated or aggravated by environmental signals in patients bearing genetic risk for these disorders.
We survey studies which relate abnormal neurogenesis to major depressive disorder. Clinically, descriptive gene and protein expression analysis and genetic and functional studies revised here show ...that individual alterations of a complex signaling network, which includes the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; the production of neurotrophins and growth factors; the expression of miRNAs; the production of proinflammatory cytokines; and, even, the abnormal delivery of gastrointestinal signaling peptides, are able to induce major mood alterations. Furthermore, all of these factors modulate neurogenesis in brain regions involved in MDD, and are functionally interconnected in such a fashion that initial alteration in one of them results in abnormalities in the others. We highlight data of potential diagnostic significance and the relevance of this information to develop new therapeutic approaches. Controversial issues, such as whether neurogenesis is the basis of the disease or whether it is a response induced by antidepressant treatments, are also discussed.
Nearly 7 00000 tons of dyes are produced annually throughout the world. Azo dyes are widely used in the textile and paper industries due to their low cost and ease of application. Their extensive use ...results in large volumes of wastewater being discharged into aquatic ecosystems. Large volume discharges constitute a health risk since many of these dyes, such as Congo Red, are elaborated with benzidine, a known carcinogenic compound. Information regarding dye toxicity in aquatic ecosystems is limited. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Congo Red on survival and reproduction of
Ceriodaphnia dubia
. We determined the 48 h median lethal concentration (LC
50
) and evaluated the effects of sublethal concentrations in subchronic exposures by using as food either fresh algae or algae previously exposed to the dye. LC
50
was 13.58 mg L
−1
. In subchronic assays, survival was reduced to 80 and 55 %, and fertility to 40 and 70 %, as compared to the control, in
C. dubia
fed with intoxicated cells or with the mix of intoxicated + fresh algae, respectively, so the quantity and type of food had a significant effect. We determined that Congo Red is highly toxic to
C. dubia
since it inhibits survival and fertility in concentrations exceeding 3 mg L
−1
. Our results show that this dye produces negative effects at very low concentrations. Furthermore, our findings warn of the risk associated with discharging dyes into aquatic environments. Lastly, the results emphasize the need to regulate the discharge of effluents containing azo dyes.
Childhood obesity is a major problem in rich countries due to its high prevalence and its harmful health consequences. An exploratory analysis conducted in the PubMed database highlighted that the ...number of papers published on the relationship between socioeconomic position (SEP) and childhood-adolescent weight status had risen substantially with respect to an earlier review which had covered the period 1990-2005.
To describe the findings on the relationship between SEP and childhood-adolescent weight status in papers published in rich countries from 1990 through 2013, studies were identified in the following databases: PubMed; Web of Knowledge (WOK); PsycINFO; Global Health; and Embase. We included observational studies from the 27 richest OECD countries, which covered study populations aged 0 to 21 years, and used parental education, income and/or occupation as family SEP indicators. A total of 158 papers met the inclusion criteria and reported 134 bivariable and 90 multivariable analyses.
Examination of the results yielded by the bivariable analyses showed that 60.4% of studies found an inverse relationship, 18.7% of studies did not found relationship, and 20.9% of studies found a relationship that varied depending on another variable, such as age, sex or ethnic group; the corresponding percentages in the multivariable analyses were 51.1, 20.0 and 27.8%, respectively. Furthermore, 1.1% found a positive relationship.
The relationship between SEP and childhood-adolescent weight status in rich countries is predominantly inverse and the positive relationship almost has disappeared. The SEP indicator that yields the highest proportion of inverse relationships is parents' education. The proportion of inverse relationships is higher when the weight status is reported by parents instead using objective measurements.
Extensive use of synthetic dyes in many industrial applications releases large volumes of wastewater. Wastewaters from dying industries are considered hazardous and require careful treatment prior to ...discharge into receiving water bodies. Dyes can affect photosynthetic activities of aquatic flora and decrease dissolved oxygen in water. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Congo red on growth and metabolic activity of Chlorella vulgaris after 96h exposure. Exposure of the microalga to Congo red reduced growth rate, photosynthesis and respiration. Analysis of chlorophyll a fluorescence emission showed that the donor side of photosystem II was affected at high concentrations of Congo red. The quantum yield for electron transport (φEo), the electron transport rate (ETR) and the performance index (PI) also decreased. The reduction in the ability to absorb and use the quantum energy increased non-photochemical (NPQ) mechanisms for thermal dissipation. Overall, Congo red affects growth and metabolic activity in photosynthetic organisms in aquatic environments.
•Algal growth was related to the rate of Congo red utilization.•Chlorophyll a fluorescence was affected by Congo red concentrations (5–25mgL−1).•Congo red reduced electron transport (ETR) and inhibited metabolic rate (photosynthesis and respiration) in Chlorella vulgaris.
•Building of a novel photobioreactor flat-panel airlift to produce consortium.•We build and characterize a photobioreactor flat-panel airlift of 150L work volume.•Yielding high CO2 utilization ...efficiencies in the photobioreactor.•Proposed correlation can be used as a reliable tool for industrial build photobioreactors.
The design and build of industrial photobioreactors are critical steps for the production of photoautotrophic microorganisms. Flat-panel airlift photobioreactors (PBRs) of 50L and 150L were built; hydrodynamics (gas hold-up (ε), mixing time (tm) and Reynolds number (Re)) and mass transfer properties were characterized in the two flat-panel airlift PBRs (50 and 150L). The geometric ratio (illuminated area: operation volume (A/V) ratio) selected for building the 150L PBR was adequate to carry out biomass production of a microbial consortium (MC). A high CO2 utilization efficiency in the PBRs was obtained. Finally, the experimental results of kLa were correlated mathematically to describe the influences of the considered factors (the overall power input and density) on the studied superficial gas velocity range. The predicted kLa values yielded acceptable results compared to the experimental results.
Discharge of dye-containing wastewater by the textile industry can adversely affect aquatic ecosystems and human health. Bioremoval is an alternative to industrial processes for detoxifying water ...contaminated with dyes. In this work, active and inactive biomass of the microalga
Chlorella vulgaris
was assayed for the ability to remove Congo Red (CR) dye from aqueous solutions. Through biosorption and biodegradation processes,
Chlorella vulgaris
was able to remove 83 and 58 % of dye at concentrations of 5 and 25 mg L
−1
, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity at equilibrium was 200 mg g
−1
. The Langmuir model best described the experimental equilibrium data. The acute toxicity test (48 h) with two species of cladocerans indicated that the toxicity of the dye in the effluent was significantly decreased compared to the initial concentrations in the influent.
Daphnia magna
was the species less sensitive to dye (EC
50
= 17.0 mg L
−1
), followed by
Ceriodaphnia dubia
(EC
50
= 3.32 mg L
−1
). These results show that
Chlorella vulgaris
significantly reduced the dye concentration and toxicity. Therefore, this method may be a viable option for the treatment of this type of effluent.
Heavy metal detoxification in eukaryotic microalgae Perales-Vela, Hugo Virgilio; Peña-Castro, Julián Mario; Cañizares-Villanueva, Rosa Olivia
Chemosphere (Oxford),
06/2006, Letnik:
64, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Microalgae are aquatic organisms possessing molecular mechanisms that allow them to discriminate non-essential heavy metals from those essential ones for their growth. The different detoxification ...processes executed by algae are reviewed with special emphasis on those involving the peptides metallothioneins, mainly the post transcriptionally synthesized class III metallothioneins or phytochelatins. Also, the features that make microalgae suitable organisms technologies specially to treat water that is heavily polluted with metals is discussed.
Antibiotics are increasingly being used in human and veterinary medicine, as well as pest control in agriculture. Recently, their emergence in the aquatic environment has become a global concern. The ...aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of streptomycin on growth and photosynthetic activity of Chlorella vulgaris after 72h exposure. We found that growth, photosynthetic activity and the content of the D1 protein of photosystem II decreased. Analysis of chlorophyll a fluorescence emission shows a reduction in the energy transfer between the antenna complex and reaction center. Also the activity of the oxygen evolution complex and electron flow between QA and QB were significantly reduced; in contrast, we found an increase in the reduction rate of the acceptor side of photosystem I. The foregoing can be attributed to the inhibition of the synthesis of the D1 protein and perhaps other coded chloroplast proteins that are part of the electron transport chain which are essential for the transformation of solar energy in the photosystems. We conclude that micromolar concentrations of streptomycin can affect growth and photosynthetic activity of Chlorella vulgaris. The accumulation of antibiotics in the environment can become an ecological problem for primary producers in the aquatic environment.
•Exposure to streptomycin reduces.•The autotrophic growth of C. vulgaris.•The content of D1-PSII protein and photosynthetic pigments.•The function of oxygen-evolving complex and the electron transport.
•High cell density of Scenedesmus incrassatulus biomass was achieved in heterotrophic culture.•Vitamins were suggested as regulatory factor in enhancing pigment synthesis.•Two stage ...hetrotrophy/photoinduction process was employed for S. incrassatulus culture.•Two stage hetrotrophy/photoinduction process improved the biomass and lutein productivity.
A biomass production process including two stages, heterotrophy/photoinduction (TSHP), was developed to improve biomass and lutein production by the green microalgae Scenedesmus incrassatulus. To determine the effects of different nitrogen sources (yeast extract and urea) and temperature in the heterotrophic stage, experiments using shake flask cultures with glucose as the carbon source were carried out. The highest biomass productivity and specific pigment concentrations were reached using urea+vitamins (U+V) at 30°C. The first stage of the TSHP process was done in a 6L bioreactor, and the inductions in a 3L airlift photobioreactor. At the end of the heterotrophic stage, S. incrassatulus achieved the maximal biomass concentration, increasing from 7.22gL−1 to 17.98gL−1 with an increase in initial glucose concentration from 10.6gL−1 to 30.3gL−1. However, the higher initial glucose concentration resulted in a lower specific growth rate (μ) and lower cell yield (Yx/s), possibly due to substrate inhibition. After 24h of photoinduction, lutein content in S. incrassatulus biomass was 7 times higher than that obtained at the end of heterotrophic cultivation, and the lutein productivity was 1.6 times higher compared with autotrophic culture of this microalga. Hence, the two-stage heterotrophy/photoinduction culture is an effective strategy for high cell density and lutein production in S. incrassatulus.
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