Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10347/34412

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 347

Current Distribution of the Invasive Kelp Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringar, 1873 Along Artificial and Natural Habitats in North Portugal—Impacts and Mitigation Initiatives
(MDPI, 2025-02-21) Rubal, Marcos; Fernández Gutiérrez, Jesús; Carreira Flores, Diego; Gomes, Pedro T.; Veiga Sánchez, María Purificación; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Instituto de Biodiversidade Agraria e Desenvolvemento Rural (IBADER)
The kelp Undaria pinnatifida is considered one of the 100 worst invasive species in the world. The presence of Undaria in Portugal was reported more than 20 years ago, but there is not recent detailed information about its distribution and impacts. The aims of this study are to provide updated data about the distribution of Undaria in marinas and natural habitats along the north Portuguese coast, to afford insights about Undaria impacts on native macroalgae and to test the efficiency of mitigation actions based on Undaria removal. Mitigation measures were implemented in a marina where a native kelp was recently displaced by Undaria. The results showed stable populations of Undaria in marinas, but few ephemeral ones on natural rocky shores. The observed distribution pattern suggests an important role of salinity and wave exposure in shaping the distribution of Undaria. Moreover, Undaria was able to displace a native kelp and overgrow mussels in marinas, while on natural rocky shores, it was able to overgrow Gongolaria baccata but not native kelps. Finally, mitigation actions resulted in a partial recolonization by the native kelp.
Thriving Areas in Temperate Coastal Systems: Novel Insights for Marine Conservation
(Wiley, 2025-10-13) Sanabria Fernández, José A.; Baselga Fraga, Andrés; Lazzari, Natali; Gómez Rodríguez, Carola; Mouillot, David; Edgar, Graham; Dakos, Vasilis; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Economía Aplicada; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigación en Tecnoloxías Ambientais (CRETUS); Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Bioloxía Funcional
Aim Resilience is a crucial property of ecosystems experiencing accelerated degradation in natural environments. While the functional characteristics of ecosystems play a significant role in shaping their resilience, the development of functional approaches in marine conservation has been largely overlooked. In light of this deficiency, we simultaneously consider the functional richness and redundancy of marine fish communities associated with rocky reefs to uncover and characterise the thriving and struggling areas. Location Five marine ecoregions in southern Europe. Methods We collected data on the density of reef-associated marine fish species using the Reef Life Survey's standardised protocol. Based on these data, we estimated the functional richness and redundancy using four key functional traits: dietary patterns, gregariousness, position in the water column, and substrate preference. Next, we applied a predictive approach by using the XGBoost algorithm to estimate these functional metrics across the study area, including areas where in situ data were unavailable. Subsequently, to identify threshold points in the predictions, we employed decision trees, enabling us to unveil thriving and struggling areas. Results Our results indicate that the proportion of thriving areas (26.7%) is similar to that of struggling areas (26.5%), and that their distribution is heterogeneous across the ecoregions. We also find that these thriving areas are distinguished by lower values of human density, fishing pressure, chlorophyll concentrations, and they also exhibit a higher protection status compared to struggling areas. Main Conclusions In the current context of declining resilience, it is essential to address the functional dimension of biodiversity to unveil thriving and struggling areas, thereby highlighting the regions that require prioritisation in conservation and restoration efforts. Our findings offer critical information for policymakers and governments at local, regional, and national levels, pinpointing priority areas to enhance marine resilience and prevent the ongoing loss of this vital ecosystem property.
Participation of the insulin-like growth factor system in the early maturity in juvenile male European sea bass
(Elsevier, 2024-09-18) Sempere, Laura; Fernández López, José Carlos; Ibáñez, Soledad; Marín, Conrado; Molés, Gregorio; Pérez-Sánchez, Jaume; Martínez Portela, Paulino; Viñas Díaz, Ana María; Felip, Alicia; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física
It is known that the insulin-like growth factor (Igf) system is involved in gonadal development and, in turn, reproduction in vertebrates. In this study, the circulating levels of Igf-1 and follicle-stimulating hormone (Fsh) were assessed as physiological signals related to gonadal maturation stage in juvenile male European sea bass at 1 year of age. The seasonal profiles of Igf-1 and Fsh were analyzed in non-precocious (NP) and precocious (PR) fish during the early onset of puberty. Subsequently, gonadal expression patterns of the three igf genes and their two receptors, igf-1r and igf-2r, were studied during their first year of life. The analysis was continued to evaluate the mRNA expression profiles of three genes (sox17, scf, nf2) mediating spermatogenesis progression. Collectively, these results demonstrated that PR males have higher circulating levels of Igf-1 as compared to NP fish before and during the putative gonadal development period (PGD). Plasma Fsh levels were significantly higher in PR males as compared to NP fish before the start of the PGD period, although this was followed by a decrease in Fsh levels and a subsequent recovery, coinciding with the reproductive season (February). Results showed that the total variance associated with the appearance of precocity may be explained by the contribution of factors such as body size and plasma levels of Igf-1, Fsh and sex steroids in male sea bass. Expression of igfs was high during stage I, and this was significantly correlated with the expression of genes related to cell cycle progression, including sox17, scf and nf2. Finally, the decreased expression of all these gonadal factors in precocious animals suggests their potential involvement in regulating the proliferative growth of spermatogonia and supporting cells during the early stages of spermatogenesis, thus evoking the onset of puberty in male sea bass.
Bony fish genomes: Status and gaps
(Wiley, 2026-03) Pérez Pereira, Noelia; Bouza Fernández, María Carmen; Martínez Portela, Paulino; Robledo Sánchez, Diego; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física
Bony fish constitute an exceptionally species-rich group of aquatic vertebrates, comprising more than 95% of all living fish. The adaptive processes on the diversity of environments they inhabit make them a highly diverse group from taxonomic, morphologic, and evolutionary standpoints. Furthermore, among their members we find species of high economic value for global aquaculture and fisheries. This has attracted the attention of multiple research fields, from ecology or evolutionary biology to comparative genomics. However, deep biological or evolutionary studies require suitable genomic resources, particularly high-quality reference genomes, across multiple species and taxonomic groups. Here, we revise the current status of open access bony fish genome assemblies, with special emphasis on existing gaps throughout their phylogeny. Recently, there has been a boom of information and up to 1,744 genomes are available, largely released in the last five years. They are distributed across 67 of the 72 recognized orders, where Cichliformes, Perciformes, Siluriformes, Cypriniformes and Cyprinodontiformes appear overrepresented, and across 268 families out of the 514 recognized. Overall, these figures cover around 5% of all described bony fish species. Despite five orders and 14 order-level incertae sedis families (mostly percomorphs) lacking genomic representation, high-throughput sequencing data for most gaps are available in the NCBI SRA repository. Future sequencing efforts aimed at improving assembly quality and filling the gaps in the fish phylogeny, in parallel to the evolution of sequencing and assembly technologies, will enhance our ability to answer open evolutionary questions in bony fish and provide genomic tools to boost fish production.
Full-length hybrid transcriptome of the olfactory rosette in Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis): an essential genomic resource for improving reproduction on farms
(Oxford Academic, 2025-10-07) Torres Sabino, Dorinda; Blanco Hortas, Andrés; Rodríguez Villamayor, Paula; Rasines, Inmaculada; Martín, Ignacio; Bouza Fernández, María Carmen; Robledo Sánchez, Diego; Martínez Portela, Paulino; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física
Senegalese sole is a promising European aquaculture species whose main challenge is that captive-born males (F1) are unable to reproduce in farms, hindering breeding programs. Chemical communication through the olfactory system is hypothesized to stem this issue. Although significant advancement in genomic resources has been made recently, scarce information exists on the genomic basis of olfaction, a special sensory system for demersal species like flatfish, which could play a prominent role in reproduction, social and environmental interactions. A full-length transcriptome of the olfactory rosettes including females, males, juveniles and adults, of both F1 and wild origins, was generated at the isoform-level by combining Oxford Nanopore long-read and Illumina short-read sequencing. A total of 20,670 transcripts actively expressed were identified: 13,941 known transcripts, 5,758 novel transcripts from known genes, and 971 from novel genes. Given the important role of olfaction in reproductive behaviour, we comparatively examined the expression and functional enrichment of the olfactory receptor gene families (OlfC, OR, ORA, and TAAR). Our comprehensive olfactory transcriptome of Senegalese sole provides a foundation for delving into the functional basis of this complex organ in teleost and flatfish. Furthermore, it provides a valuable resource for addressing reproductive management challenges in Senegalese sole aquaculture
A common garden experiment supports a genetic component underlying the increased resilience of common cockle (Cerastoderma edule) to the parasite Marteilia cochillia
(Wiley, 2023-10-17) Villalba García, Antonio; Coimbra, Maria Raquel Moura; Pampín Iglesias, Marina; Iglesias Estepa, david; Costas, Damián; Mariño, Carlos; Blanco Hortas, Andrés; Vera Rodríguez, Manuel; Domínguez, Marta; Cacabelos, Eva; Abella, Emilio; Incera, Mónica; Fernández Otero, Rosa; Martínez Portela, Paulino; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física
The common cockle is a valuable bivalve species inhabiting the Atlantic European coasts. The parasite Marteilia cochillia has devastated cockle beds in the southern Galician (NW Spain) rias since 2012. Previous data suggested that cockles from Ría de Arousa acquired some resilience to this parasite through natural selection after consecutive annual marteiliosis outbreaks and candidate markers associated with marteiliosis resilience were identified using population genomics and transcriptomics approaches. Here, a common garden experiment was performed using a naïve stock (from Ría de Muros-Noia) and an affected stock (from Ría de Arousa) to test this hypothesis. Breeders from both stocks were used to produce seed cohorts at hatchery, which were pre-grown in a raft (outdoor nursery stage) and deployed in two shellfish beds affected by marteiliosis in Ría de Arousa (growing-out stage). In both beds, the naïve stock showed high marteiliosis prevalence and was fully depleted in a short period, while the affected stock barely showed evidence of marteiliosis. A set of 45 SNPs putatively associated with marteiliosis resilience were fitted for MassARRAY genotyping to check their role in the differential resilience detected between both stocks. Though no significant differentiation was found between the naïve and the affected stocks with neutral markers, 28 SNPs showed significant divergence between them, suggesting that these SNPs were involved in directional selection during eight generations (to the most) of marteiliosis pressure (long-term selection). Furthermore, signals of selection were also detected in the naïve stock along the marteiliosis outbreak in the growing-out stage (short-term selection) and six SNPs, all shared with the long-term evaluation, showed consistent signals of differentiation according to the infection severity. Some of these SNPs were located within immune genes pertaining to families such as proteasome, ubiquitin, tumor necrosis factor, and glutathione S-transferase. These resilience-associated markers will be useful to recover cockle production in Galicia
Conservation Challenges Under Taxonomic Uncertainty: Introgression Patterns and Environmental Correlates in Mediterranean Brown Trout
(Wiley, 2025-11-12) Aparicio Manau, Enric; Rocaspana, Rafel; García Berthou, Emili; Alcaraz Cazorla, Carles; Vera Rodríguez, Manuel; Heras Mena, Sandra; García Marín, José Luis; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física
The Mediterranean brown trout (Salmo trutta species complex) comprises genetically and ecologically distinct lineages primarily distributed across the Western Mediterranean region. Conservation of the Mediterranean brown trout is complicated by unresolved taxonomy. Although some populations have recently been recognised as distinct species, most—including those in the Iberian Peninsula—remain classified under the nominal S. trutta, which is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. This taxonomic ambiguity masks severe conservation threats, particularly the widespread genetic introgression from stocked Atlantic-origin trout. In this study, we assessed introgression patterns, environmental drivers and conservation implications for Mediterranean brown trout populations in Catalonia (northeastern Iberian Peninsula). Genetic data from 134 sites were analysed using microsatellite markers and LDH-C1* allele frequencies, and the influence of historical stocking intensity and climatic variables on introgression was evaluated using hierarchical partitioning and regression models. Our results revealed extensive introgression, with only 10.4% of the populations retaining genetic purity. Stocking intensity was the primary predictor of introgression, followed by temperature and precipitation seasonality. Although the overall distribution of brown trout in the region remains stable, genetically pure Mediterranean populations have experienced severe range contraction, with a 61.5% reduction in extent of occurrence (EOO) and an 89.6% reduction in area of occupancy (AOO). This decline might meet IUCN criterion B for Endangered, although a formal assessment is currently impeded by taxonomic uncertainty and data limitations. The recognition of Mediterranean brown trout as a distinct species, alongside urgent measures to halt ongoing introgression and preserve remaining pure populations, is essential for its long-term conservation.
Characterisation of post-translational and transcriptional reprogramming of the immune response to ISAV and IPNV infections in salmon head kidney cells
(Frontiers Media, 2025-10-17) Stewart, Robert; Souto Guitián, Xoel; Gervais, Ophélie; Jin, Yehwa; Salisbury, Sarah J.; Ballantyne, Maeve; Martin, Samuel A. M.; Orosa Puente, Beatriz; Robledo Sánchez, Diego; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Anatomía, Produción Animal e Ciencias Clínicas Veterinarias; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física
Viral diseases remain a major barrier to the sustainable production of farmed fish, primarily attributable to the absence of effective prevention and treatment options. Understanding host-pathogen interactions can guide the development of vaccines, antiviral therapies, or gene editing strategies. Ubiquitination is a post-translational modification capable of regulating protein activation, structure, and degradation. As such, it is known to regulate many aspects of immune functions in model species, but is currently understudied in fish. This study leverages ubiquitin-enriched mass spectroscopy complemented with RNA sequencing to characterise the role of ubiquitination in response to infection. A challenge experiment was conducted by infecting Atlantic salmon head kidney (SHK-1) cells with Infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV) and Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV). At 24 and 48 hours post-infection, dramatic changes were observed in the global ubiquitination state of host proteins. Many post-translational modifying proteins increased in abundance upon ISAV infection, whilst IPNV infection resulted in a reduction in abundance of many of these proteins. Transcriptomics showed a delay in the activation of the antiviral response to ISAV infection, with major upregulation of genes associated with immune pathways only at 48h. On the contrary, IPNV infection resulted in upregulation of classic innate immune response genes at both timepoints. Clear activation of Rig-like receptor pathways is demonstrated in both infections, in addition to upregulation of both conserved and novel antiviral TRIM E3 ubiquitin ligase genes. Network analysis identified clusters of immune genes and putatively regulatory proteins showing differential ubiquitination upon viral infection. This study highlights the capacity of post-translational control of the host innate immune response to viruses in Atlantic salmon. Clear differences in ubiquitination between the two viruses indicate either virus-specific post-translational regulation or viral antagonism of the immune response. Additionally, the ubiquitination of various proteins was linked to the regulation of innate immune pathways, suggesting a direct role of ubiquitination in the regulation of antiviral responses.
Measuring quantitative proteomic distance between Spanish beef breeds
(Elsevier, 2020-06-15) Rodríguez Vázquez, Raquel; Mato Montero, Ariadna; López-Pedrouso, María; Franco Ruiz, Daniel; Sentandreu Vicente, Miguel Ángel; Zapata Babío, José Carlos; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Bioquímica e Bioloxía Molecular; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Enxeñaría Química
Estimates of quantitative proteomic distance between populations have not been reported to date. Here, quantitative proteomic distances between three Spanish bovine breeds (Asturiana de los Valles, AV; Retinta, RE; and Rubia Gallega, RG) were estimated from two-dimensional electrophoresis profiles of meat samples of longissimus thoracis muscle at 2 h post-mortem. Statistically significant distances were detected between AV/RG and the most genetically different RE breed, using the novel QD measure of quantitative proteomic distance. In total, 18 differentially abundant myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic proteins/isoforms contributing to proteomic distances between breeds were confidently identified by tandem mass spectrometry. The fast skeletal myosin regulatory light chain 2 followed by other five interacting proteins exhibited the most pronounced relative change between breeds. In addition, most differentially represented proteins could be associated with variations in meat tenderness. Therefore, they could be candidate biomarkers for molecular breeding programs and authentication of the three Spanish beef breeds
Decoding the gene expression response of Cerastoderma edule to chronic trematode infection: A comparison among host tissues
(Elsevier, 2026-02) Correia, Simão; Blanco Hortas, Andrés; García Souto, Daniel; Poulin, Robert; Vera Rodríguez, Manuel; Magalhães, Luísa; Fernández Boo, Sergio; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física
Parasites can induce gene expression changes in their hosts, either benefiting the parasite or the host. In particular, trematodes are not only one of the most ubiquitous groups of aquatic parasites, they also have huge impacts on individual hosts with significant ecological and economic repercussions. The trematode Bucephalus minimus infects Cerastoderma edule (the edible cockle), a socioeconomically and ecologically important bivalve, as its first intermediate host. This parasite is one of the most harmful parasites infecting cockles, affecting their ability to reproduce, grow, and survive, thereby indirectly impacting ecosystem functioning. Despite the welldocumented ecological effects of B. minimus, its impacts at a molecular level remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying B. minimus infection in cockles by analysing tissue-specific and systemic responses to long-term parasitic infection. It compared gene expression profiles in two critical tissues of naturally infected and non-infected cockles: the digestive gland, the primary target of infection, and the haemolymph, the backbone of the bivalve immune system. Results revealed extensive tissuespecific changes in gene expression. In the haemolymph, infected cockles showed significant downregulation of pathways related to cell division, cytoskeletal organization, and DNA repair, suggesting potentially parasiteinduced reduction of immune responses and host cellular functions. Contrary to expectations, immune pathways did not show significantly increased expression, likely reflecting the chronic nature of infection and energy reallocation by the host. In the digestive gland, genes associated with gametogenesis, metabolism and immune function were downregulated, with no significant upregulation observed, except in some genes related to scavenger receptor activity and inflammation, suggesting localized immune responses. Shared responses among tissues included alterations in zinc ion transport and neurotransmitter biosynthesis, suggesting management of infection-induced stress. These findings highlight how B. minimus may manipulate host biology to suppress immunity and disrupt critical cellular processes, providing valuable insights into chronic trematode infections and host-parasite dynamics.
Comparative Proteomics of Potato Cultivars with a Variable Dormancy Period
(MDPI, 2022-10-05) Mouzo Calzadilla, Daniel; Rodríguez Vázquez, Raquel; Barrio Carballo, Carlos; Zapata Babío, José Carlos
The control of the duration of the dormancy phase is a significant challenge in the potato industry and for seed producers. However, the proteome landscape involved in the regulation of the length of the dormancy period over potato cultivars remains largely unexplored. In this study, we performed for the first time a comparative proteome profiling of potato cultivars with differential duration of tuber dormancy. More specifically, the proteome profiling of Agata, Kennebec and Agria commercial potato varieties with short, medium and medium-long dormancy, respectively, was assessed at the endodormancy stage using high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) coupled to reversed-phase liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-TripleTOF MS/MS). A total of 11 proteins/isoforms with statistically significant differential abundance among cultivars were detected on 2-DE gels and confidently identified by LC-TripleTOF MS/MS. Identified proteins have known functions related to tuber development, sprouting and the oxylipins biosynthesis pathway. Fructokinase, a mitochondrial ADP/ATP carrier, catalase isozyme 2 and heat shock 70 kDa were the proteins with the strongest response to dormancy variations. To the best of our knowledge, this study reports the first candidate proteins underlying variable dormancy length in potato cultivars.
Phosphoproteome Analysis Using Two-Dimensional Electrophoresis Coupled with Chemical Dephosphorylation
(MDPI, 2022-10-07) Rodríguez Vázquez, Raquel; Mouzo Calzadilla, Daniel; Zapata Babío, José Carlos
Protein phosphorylation is a reversible post-translational modification (PTM) with major regulatory roles in many cellular processes. However, the analysis of phosphoproteins remains the most challenging barrier in the prevailing proteome research. Recent technological advances in two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) have enabled the identification, characterization, and quantification of protein phosphorylation on a global scale. Most research on phosphoproteins with 2-DE has been conducted using phosphostains. Nevertheless, low-abundant and low-phosphorylated phosphoproteins are not necessarily detected using phosphostains and/or MS. In this study, we report a comparative analysis of 2-DE phosphoproteome profiles using Pro-Q Diamond phosphoprotein stain (Pro-Q DPS) and chemical dephosphorylation of proteins with HF-P from longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle samples of the Rubia Gallega cattle breed. We found statistically significant differences in the number of identified phosphoproteins between methods. More specifically, we found a three-fold increase in phosphoprotein detection with the HF-P method. Unlike Pro-Q DPS, phosphoprotein spots with low volume and phosphorylation rate were identified by HF-P technique. This is the first approach to assess meat phosphoproteome maps using HF-P at a global scale. The results open a new window for 2-DE gel-based phosphoproteome analysis.
Influence of production system and finishing feeding on meat quality of Rubia Gallega calves
(Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 2020-12-29) Rodríguez Vázquez, Raquel; Pateiro Moure, Mirian; López-Pedrouso, María; Gende, Antonio; Crecente Campo, Santiago; Pérez Serrano, Martina; González Vázquez, Jesús; Lorenzo Rodríguez, José Manuel; Zapata Babío, José Carlos; Franco Ruiz, Daniel
Aim of study: Beef quality is mainly affected by finishing feeding (FF) and production system (PS). The effects of PS (extensive, semi-extensive, traditional and intensive systems) and FF from Rubia Gallega calves were compared in terms of meat quality. Area of study: Galicia (NW Spain) Material and methods: Calves (n=10 per treatment) were slaughtered at nine months of age and meat samples were assessed in terms of meat quality attributes such as physicochemical, nutritional and sensory analysis performed by a trained panel. Main results: Meat chemical composition varied (p<0.01) with PS and FF. The semi-extensive system showed the lowest values (p<0.05) for cooking loss (22.8%) and for shear force (26.0 N) while the extensive system presented the lowest contents of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and the highest contents of linolenic acid (p<0.001). The SFA and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) contents varied with FF (p<0.05). The lowest and highest values for SFA and PUFA were displayed in extensive group finished with Pasture/Concentrate, meanwhile feedlot group finished with Concentrate/Straw showed and opposite trend. The n-6/n-3 ratio was lower than 4 for extensive and semi-extensive systems (p<0.001). In addition, tenderness and juiciness showed significant differences mainly due to FF. Research highlights: This study showed that meat of calves reared in extensive systems was the healthiest, regarding total fat and fatty acid composition. It can be concluded that finishing feeding, and PS affected meat quality. Hence the potential usefulness of these results is to improve meat quality and safety according to market demands.
Exploring the effects of dietary methionine supplementation on European seabass mucosal immune responses against Tenacibaculum maritimum
(Frontiers Media, 2025) Carvalho, Inês; Peixoto, Diogo; Ferreira, Inês; Robledo Sánchez, Diego; Ramos-Pinto, Lourenço; Silva, Rodolfo Miguel; Gonçalves, José Fernando; Machado, Marina; Tafalla, Carolina; Costas, Benjamin; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física
Introduction: Dietary methionine supplementation has been shown to enhance immunity and disease resistance in fish. However, excessive intake may lead to adverse effects. The present study aimed to evaluate the immune status of European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fed increasing levels of dietary methionine supplementation and to investigate the early immune response to Tenacibaculum maritimum. Methods: For this purpose, juvenile European seabass were fed one of three experimental diets containing methionine at 8.6 mg/g (CTRL), 18.5 mg/g (MET2), and 29.2 mg/g (MET3) for four weeks, followed by a bath challenge with T. maritimum. Results: While higher methionine intake reduced hemoglobin levels, no other significant changes in the immune status were observed. However, after infection, fish fed higher methionine levels exhibited a dose-dependent decrease in the mRNA expression of some proinflammatory genes. Similarly, RNA sequencing analysis of skin tissue revealed an attenuated immune response in the MET2 group at 24 hours post-infection, with few proinflammatory genes upregulated, which intensified at 48 h, potentially due to advanced tissue colonization by T. maritimum. The MET3 group displayed the least pronounced immune response, along with the enrichment of some immune-related pathways among the downregulated transcripts. These findings, together with the lower mRNA expression of proinflammatory genes in the head kidney and the higher mortality rates observed in this group, suggest a potential impairment of the immune response. Discussion: Overall, these findings indicate that dietary methionine supplementation may significantly influence both systemic and local immune responses in European seabass, highlighting the need for careful consideration when supplementing diets with methionine.
Genetic diversity and structure of Taxus baccata from the Cantabrian-Atlantic area in northern Spain: A guide for conservation and management actions
(Elsevier, 2020) Maroso, Francesco; Vera Rodríguez, Manuel; Ferreiro da Costa, Javier; Mayol, Maria M.; Riba, Miquel; Ramil Rego, Pablo; Martínez Portela, Paulino; Bouza Fernández, María Carmen; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Botánica
The maintenance of biological diversity at ecosystem, species and intraspecific levels is essential to ensure the survival of forests. The palaeartic yew Taxus baccata is part of a number of threatened forest types with prioritized conservation value in Europe. We investigated the spatial distribution of microsatellite genetic diversity in forty-six T. baccata populations (1,054 trees) spanning the Cantabrian-Atlantic Region (CR) in Northern Spain, framed within a conservation and restoration plan of the species in that region. Different layers of genetic structure were detected, with low structure at a global scale, suggesting historical connectivity, and a complex structure at smaller spatial scales. A low but significant regional genetic variation was also identified associated with biogeographical groups within CR, of potential interest to assist conservation and restoration programs. These genetic differences were reflected on a heterogeneous contribution to the total heterozygosity and allelic richness by the different regions. Data were contextualized within the Iberian Peninsula using previous data in this species (totaling 2,731 trees from 128 populations) after genotype standardization for a common set of seven microsatellites, confirming higher genetic diversity and more homogeneous structure in CR than in central and southeastern Iberian regions. Evidence of geographical structure between eastern (Betic Range, Catalonian Ranges, Pyrenees) and western (Cantabrian Range, Central System Range, Iberian System Range) populations was detected. This study deepens into the spatial distribution of genetic diversity in T. baccata through an intensive survey in CR as a basis for different in situ and ex situ conservation actions in the region aimed to conserve the genetic resources of this species and improve protected yew-associated natural habitats.
A continuous in silico learning strategy to identify safety liabilities in compounds used in the leather and textile industry
(Springer, 2023-02-12) March-Vila, Eric; Ferretti, Giacomo; Terricabras, Emma; Ardao Palacios, Inés; Brea Floriani, José Manuel; Varela, María José; Arana, Álvaro; Rubiolo Gaytán, Juan Andrés; Sanz, Ferran; Loza García, María Isabel; Sánchez Piñón, Laura; Alonso, Héctor; Pastor, Manuel; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Farmacoloxía, Farmacia e Tecnoloxía Farmacéutica; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Centro de Investigación en Medicina Molecular e Enfermidades Crónicas (CiMUS); Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física
There is a widely recognized need to reduce human activity's impact on the environment. Many industries of the leather and textile sector (LTI), being aware of producing a significant amount of residues (Keßler et al. 2021; Liu et al. 2021), are adopting measures to reduce the impact of their processes on the environment, starting with a more comprehensive characterization of the chemical risk associated with the substances commonly used in LTI. The present work contributes to these efforts by compiling and toxicologically annotating the substances used in LTI, supporting a continuous learning strategy for characterizing their chemical safety. This strategy combines data collection from public sources, experimental methods and in silico predictions for characterizing four different endpoints: CMR, ED, PBT, and vPvB. We present the results of a prospective validation exercise in which we confirm that in silico methods can produce reasonably good hazard estimations and fill knowledge gaps in the LTI chemical space. The proposed protocol can speed the process and optimize the use of resources including the lives of experimental animals, contributing to identifying potentially harmful substances and their possible replacement by safer alternatives, thus reducing the environmental footprint and impact on human health.
Crambescin C1 acts as a possible substrate of iNOS and eNOS increasing nitric oxide production and inducing in vivo hypotensive effect
(Frontiers, 2021-07-07) Rubiolo Gaytán, Juan Andrés; Lence Quintana, Emilio José; González Bello, Concepción; Roel Fernández, María; Gil Longo, José; Campos Toimil, Manuel; Ternon, Eva; Thomas, Olivier P.; González Cantalapiedra, Antonio; López Alonso, Henar; Rodríguez Vieytes, Mercedes; Botana López, Luis Miguel; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Farmacoloxía, Farmacia e Tecnoloxía Farmacéutica; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Química Orgánica; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Centro de Investigación en Medicina Molecular e Enfermidades Crónicas (CiMUS); Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Anatomía, Produción Animal e Ciencias Clínicas Veterinarias; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Fisioloxía
Crambescins are guanidine alkaloids from the sponge Crambe crambe. Crambescin C1 (CC) induces metallothionein genes and nitric oxide (NO) is one of the triggers. We studied and compared the in vitro, in vivo, and in silico effects of some crambescine A and C analogs. HepG2 gene expression was analyzed using microarrays. Vasodilation was studied in rat aortic rings. In vivo hypotensive effect was directly measured in anesthetized rats. The targets of crambescines were studied in silico. CC and homo-crambescine C1 (HCC), but not crambescine A1 (CA), induced metallothioneins transcripts. CC increased NO production in HepG2 cells. In isolated rat aortic rings, CC and HCC induced an endothelium-dependent relaxation related to eNOS activation and an endothelium-independent relaxation related to iNOS activation, hence both compounds increase NO and reduce vascular tone. In silico analysis also points to eNOS and iNOS as targets of Crambescin C1 and source of NO increment. CC effect is mediated through crambescin binding to the active site of eNOS and iNOS. CC docking studies in iNOS and eNOS active site revealed hydrogen bonding of the hydroxylated chain with residues Glu377 and Glu361, involved in the substrate recognition, and explains its higher binding affinity than CA. The later interaction and the extra polar contacts with its pyrimidine moiety, absent in the endogenous substrate, explain its role as exogenous substrate of NOSs and NO production. Our results suggest that CC serve as a basis to develop new useful drugs when bioavailability of NO is perturbed
Genomic Analysis of Inbreeding Depression on Productive Traits in Rubia Galega Beef Cattle Breed
(Wiley, 2025-12-16) Mejuto Vázquez, Nicolás; Hervás Rivero, Carlos; Rodríguez Bermúdez, Ruth; López Carbonell, David; Hermida Prieto, Miguel; Martínez Portela, Paulino; Varona, Luis; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Anatomía, Produción Animal e Ciencias Clínicas Veterinarias; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Xenética
In autochthonous livestock breeds with small populations, such as the Rubia Galega from Galicia (Spain), mating between relatives is common and can lead to inbreeding depression. Genomic inbreeding coefficients were estimated for 4984 animals using~63,000 SNPs to assess inbreeding depression in four key traits: age at first calving (AFC) with 3503 records, calving interval (CI) with 3315 records, birth weight (BW) with 4878 records and weight at 210 days (W210) with 3285 records. Runs of homozygosity were sorted by length ([1,2], (2,4], (4,8], (8,16], > 16 Mb), and the corresponding inbreeding coefficients (FROH>1, FROH>2, FROH>4, FROH>8, FROH>16) were calculated using the consecutiveRUNs R package. A Genomic BLUP (GBLUP) was conducted for each FROH estimate using the BLUPF90+ programs. The results revealed significant inbreeding depression for AFC and CI, whereas W210 and BW exhibited similar inbreeding trends, but the effects of inbreeding on these traits were not statistically significant. To further explore the genetic basis of inbreeding depression, SNPs located within ROHs were tested, though a t-test, for their association with phenotypic traits. Genes located in significant regions (−log(p-value) > 3 from t-test) were annotated using EnsemblBioMart within a ± 0.5 Mb window. Recent inbreeding (ROH > 8 Mb) showed significant negative effects on reproductive traits, and key genomic regions—particularly on chromosome 2 involving MSTN, NAB1, and COL5A2—were linked to increased AFC and reduced BW and W210; ROH-based inbreeding estimates proved effective in detecting inbreeding depression in this native breed. Overall, ROH-based analyses revealed genomic regions and candidate genes, notably MSTN, contributing to inbreeding depression and key production traits in Rubia Galega cattle.
A proteomic approach to identify biomarkers of foal meat quality: A focus on tenderness, color and intramuscular fat traits
(Elsevier, 2022-10-27) López-Pedrouso, María; Lorenzo José M.; Cittadini, Aurora; Sarries, María V.; Gagaoua, Mohammed; Franco Ruiz, Daniel; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Enxeñaría Química; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física
La carne de potro se considera una alternativa saludable frente a otras fuentes de carne y más sostenible desde el punto de vista ambiental. Sin embargo, su calidad es muy variable y existe una falta de conocimiento sobre los mecanismos moleculares que determinan dicha calidad. El genotipo y la dieta desempeñan un papel relevante como los principales factores que permiten controlar la calidad final, y el uso de métodos analíticos de alta resolución, como la proteómica, es una vía para alcanzar este ambicioso objetivo. Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo estudiar dos razas (Burguete y Jaca Navarra) suplementadas con dos dietas de acabado diferentes: concentrado convencional y paja (C) frente a ensilado y pienso ecológico (S). El enfoque proteómico construyó una biblioteca de 294 proteínas que fueron sometidas a diversos análisis estadísticos y bioinformáticos. La raza Burguete terminada con concentrado produjo una carne de mayor calidad en términos de terneza, grasa intramuscular y luminosidad del color, principalmente debido a la alta abundancia de proteínas del metabolismo energético. La terneza se correlacionó con proteínas miofibrilares (ACTA1, MYBPH, MYL1 y TNNC1) y proteínas del metabolismo energético (ALDOA, CKM, TPI1).
Effects of two different peptides on pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in larval zebrafish
(PLOS, 2025-04-25) Araujo Fernández, Jhonathan Angel; Moura, Thatiane Cristina de; Fernández Vila, Sabela; Rubiolo Gaytán, Juan Andrés; López-Díaz, Iñaki; Learte Aymamí, Soraya; Vázquez Sentís, Marco Eugenio; Mayán, María D.; Sánchez Piñón, Laura; Maurer-Morelli, Claudia Vianna; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Centro de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CiQUS); Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Química Orgánica
Epilepsy is a common and severe neurological disease characterized by spontaneous and recurrent seizures. Although anti-seizure treatments are effective for most patients, approximately 30% remain pharmacoresistant. Moreover, uncontrolled seizures are associated with increased health risks and shortened life expectancy in individuals with refractory epilepsy. Preclinical studies play a crucial role in drug discovery, and the zebrafish (Danio rerio) have been successfully employed for this purpose. In this study, we utilized the zebrafish PTZ-induced seizure model to evaluate the effects of two peptides on seizure responses: Tripeptide (p-BTX-I) and the CX2 (a Cx43derivated peptide). Zebrafish larvae at 6 days post-fertilization were pre-treated with these peptides at various concentrations, depending on their experimental groups, 24h prior to seizure induction. We assessed seizure frequency, quantified swimming activity, measured transcript levels of genes related to inflammation and apoptosis (il1b, tnfa, cox1, cox2a, il6, casp3a, casp9, baxa, bcl2a, and c-fos), and analyzed the biodistribution of both peptides. Our results indicate that the Tripeptide exhibited anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects, particularly through reducing the expression of il1b and casp9. CX2 pre-treatment significantly downregulated inflammatory markers (il1b, il6, tnfa, and cox1). Biodistribution analysis confirmed that the CX2 peptide reached the zebrafish brain, suggesting a direct role in modulating seizure-related pathways. Our findings demonstrate that Tripeptide and CX2 peptides can modulate gene expression and mitigate molecular response associated with epileptic seizures in the zebrafish brain. These peptides thus represent promising candidates for future research aimed at developing novel anti-epileptic therapies. However, additional studies are required to evaluate their long-term efficacy, elucidate underlying mechanisms of action, and explore potential translational applications.

Browse

Recent Submissions