Late survival of Neanderthals at the southernmost extreme of Europe

The late survival of archaic hominin populations and their long contemporaneity with modern humans is now clear for southeast Asia. In Europe the extinction of the Neanderthals, firmly associated with Mousterian technology, has received much attention, and evidence of their survival after 35 kyr bp has recently been put in doubt. Here we present data, based on a high-resolution record of human occupation from Gorham's Cave, Gibraltar, that establish the survival of a population of Neanderthals to 28 kyr bp. These Neanderthals survived in the southernmost point of Europe, within a particular physiographic context, and are the last currently recorded anywhere. Our results show that the Neanderthals survived in isolated refuges well after the arrival of modern humans in Europe.     

A route to high surface area, porosity and inclusion of large molecules in crystals

One of the outstanding challenges in the field of porous materials is the design and synthesis of chemical structures with exceptionally high surface areas. Such materials are of critical importance to many applications involving catalysis, separation and gas storage. The claim for the highest surface area of a disordered structure is for carbon, at 2,030 m2 g(-1) (ref. 2). Until recently, the largest surface area of an ordered structure was that of zeolite Y, recorded at 904 m2 g(-1) (ref. 3). But with the introduction of metal-organic framework materials, this has been exceeded, with values up to 3,000 m2 g(-1) (refs 4-7). Despite this, no method of determining the upper limit in surface area for a material has yet been found. Here we present a general strategy that has allowed us to realize a structure having by far the highest surface area reported to date. We report the design, synthesis and properties of crystalline Zn4O(1,3,5-benzenetribenzoate)2, a new metal-organic framework with a surface area estimated at 4,500 m2 g(-1). This framework, which we name MOF-177, combines this exceptional level of surface area with an ordered structure that has extra-large pores capable of binding polycyclic organic guest molecules--attributes not previously combined in one material.     

Mutations in ACTN4, encoding alpha-actinin-4, cause familial focal segmental glomerulosclerosis

Focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a common, non-specific renal lesion. Although it is often secondary to other disorders, including HIV infection, obesity, hypertension and diabetes, FSGS also appears as an isolated, idiopathic condition. FSGS is characterized by increased urinary protein excretion and decreasing kidney function. Often, renal insufficiency in affected patients progresses to end-stage renal failure, a highly morbid state requiring either dialysis therapy or kidney transplantation. Here we present evidence implicating mutations in the gene encoding alpha-actinin-4 (ACTN4; ref. 2), an actin-filament crosslinking protein, as the cause of disease in three families with an autosomal dominant form of FSGS. In vitro, mutant alpha-actinin-4 binds filamentous actin (F-actin) more strongly than does wild-type alpha-actinin-4. Regulation of the actin cytoskeleton of glomerular podocytes may be altered in this group of patients. Our results have implications for understanding the role of the cytoskeleton in the pathophysiology of kidney disease and may lead to a better understanding of the genetic basis of susceptibility to kidney damage.     

Effect of plant lectins on Ustilago maydis in vitro

Ustilago maydis is an edible parasitic basidiomycete, which specifically infects corn (Zea mays) and teocintle (Z. diploperennis). To characterise the interaction between the basidiomycete and its host organism, we tested the effect of plant lectins with well-known sugar specificity on the growth and germination of U. maydis spores. Lectins specific for N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, such as those from Dolichos biflorus and Phaseolus lunatus, and the wheatgerm agglutinin specific for N-acetyl-D-glucosamine inhibited spore germination, but were ineffective in modifying U. maydis cell growth. The galactose-specific lectin from the corn coleoptyle inhibited both germination and cell growth, while the lectin concanavalin A (mannose/glucose specific) activated spore germination and growth. Our results suggest that specific saccharide-containing receptors participate in regulating the growth and maturation of U. maydis spores.     

Telomerase-deficient mice with short telomeres are resistant to skin tumorigenesis

Inhibition of telomerase is proposed to limit the growth of cancer cells by triggering telomere shortening and cell death. Telomere maintenance by telomerase is sufficient, in some cell types, to allow immortal growth. Telomerase has been shown to cooperate with oncogenes in transforming cultured primary human cells into neoplastic cells, suggesting that telomerase activation contributes to malignant transformation. Moreover, telomerase inhibition in human tumour cell lines using dominant-negative versions of TERT leads to telomere shortening and cell death. These findings have led to the proposition that telomerase inhibition may result in cessation of tumour growth. The absence of telomerase from most normal cells supports the potential efficacy of anti-telomerase drugs for tumour therapy, as its inhibition is unlikely to have toxic effects. Mice deficient for Terc RNA (encoding telomerase) lack telomerase activity, and constitute a model for evaluating the role of telomerase and telomeres in tumourigenesis. Late-generation Terc-/- mice show defects in proliferative tissues and a moderate increase in the incidence of spontaneous tumours in highly proliferative cell types (lymphomas, teratocarcinomas). The appearance of these tumours is thought to be a consequence of chromosomal instability in these mice. These observations have challenged the expected effectiveness of anti-telomerase-based cancer therapies. Different cell types may nonetheless vary in their sensitivity to the chromosomal instability produced by telomere loss or to the activation of telomere-rescue mechanisms. Here we show that late-generation Terc-/- mice, which have short telomeres and are telomerase-deficient, are resistant to tumour development in multi-stage skin carcinogenesis. Our results predict that an anti-telomerase-based tumour therapy may be effective in epithelial tumours.     

Impact of T cell selection methods in the success of clinical adoptive immunotherapy

Chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy regular regimens used for conditioning of recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) induce a period of transient profound immunosuppression. The onset of a competent immunological response, such as the appearance of viral-specific T cells, is associated with a lower incidence of viral infections after haematopoietic transplantation. The rapid development of immunodominant peptide virus screening together with advances in the design of genetic and non-genetic viral- and tumoural-specific cellular selection strategies have opened new strategies for cellular immunotherapy in oncologic recipients who are highly sensitive to viral infections. However, the rapid development of cellular immunotherapy in SCT has disclosed the role of the T cell selection method in the modulation of functional cell activity and of in vivo secondary effects triggered following immunotherapy.     

Human progeroid syndromes,aging and cancer: new genetic and epigenetic insights into old questions

Disorders in which individuals exhibit certain features of aging early in life are referred to as segmental progeroid syndromes. With the progress that has been made in understanding the etiologies of these conditions in the past decade, potential therapeutic options have begun to move from the realm of improbability to initial stages of testing. Among these syndromes, relevant advances have recently been made in Werner syndrome, one of several progeroid syndromes characterized by defective DNA helicases, and Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, which is characterized by aberrant processing of the nuclear envelope protein lamin A. Although best known for their causative roles in these illnesses, Werner protein and lamin A have also recently emerged as key players vulnerable to epigenetic changes that contribute to tumorigenesis and aging. These advances further demonstrate that understanding progeroid syndromes and introducing adequate treatments will not only prove beneficial to patients suffering from these dramatic diseases, but will also provide new mechanistic insights into cancer and normal aging processes. Received 28 July 2006; received after revision 5 September 2006; accepted 13 October 2006     

First record of Orbopercularia lichtensteini (Peritrichia: Operculariidae) attached to a hemipteran,Corisella edulis (Nepomorpha: Corixidae), in Hidalgo,Mexico, with notes on its cytology and distributional patterns

Operculariidae includes sessile ciliate species mainly attached to diverse substrates, but records are scarce for their attachment to aquatic true bugs. The goal of this contribution is to provide new cytological data with optical and scanning electron microscopy of Orbopercularia lichtensteini, and some notes about their distribution on a Mexican corixid. We manually collected the corixids in a pond in Mexico during a six-month period, and all individuals were revised to observe the peritrichids. We calculated the abundance and prevalence, with an emphasis on the specific micro-location of the epibiotic peritrich on the host Corisella edulis. A total of 36,205 peritrichids were recorded in 158 corixids. The colonies with fine striated zooids were dichotomously branched and mostly attached to left eyes, but also on other body regions, i.e. left wings and rostrum. We conclude that some morphological colony traits bring some advantages for food particle capture, and aspects of the biology and morphology of Corisella edulis play an important role in determining the spatial distribution of O. lichtensteini.     

poCDIO: A Methodological Proposal for Promoting Active Participation in Social Engineering Projects

Currently, both public and private organizations, as well as the academic milieu are developing social projects in order to strengthen and improve the quality of life. This is the case of Engineers Without Borders Colombia (ISFCOL for its Spanish acronym), an organization formed by engineering teachers and students from Los Andes University and the Minuto de Dios University Corporation that develops engineering projects within communities in order to solve environmental and social problems. However, based in the group’s experience, a problem has been identified regarding the absence of a methodology that promotes the active and effective participation of all the parties involved, which can prevent the accomplishment of otherwise technically viable, socially responsible, and sustainable projects. Looking to address this issue, this paper presents a methodological proposal for promoting the active participation of all the parties involved in engineering projects that have a social impact. The proposal is structured following the stages of the oCDIO context (Observe, Conceive, Design, Implement and Operate), and is successfully applied during the development of an ISFCOL project in which the participation of all the parties involved becomes a key element for the effective accomplishment of the engineering proposal and for the generation of socially responsible impacts. Namely, the project “Fortalecimiento Negocios Verdes Comunitarios Provincia del Guavio” (Community Green Businesses Strengthening in the Guavio Province) whose main goal was to strengthen the innovation and the entrepreneurship in the Guavio region communities, consolidating thus an active participation network of 400 members made up by small entrepreneurs and students from rural communities close to the city of Bogota and from higher education institutions.