http://hdl.handle.net/10256/1535 2025-08-09T22:44:29Z http://hdl.handle.net/10256/26812 Finding Introgression From 'Native' Stocks When Looking for Population Structure in Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) Sanz Ball-llosera, Núria; González Fernández, Gustavo In brown trout, population structure is the result of a combination of factors such as the geographic distance, the altitude, the hierarchy of the hydrography and the presence of physical barriers totally or partially impassable for trout. Structure can even occur within populations, because of the lack of random mating (panmixia) between individuals, which is often a consequence of stocking with exogenous fish. In this study, we aimed to evaluate fragmentation in brown trout populations of the Pedroso River (Duero basin) to assess the effect of artificial barriers in this system. Our results indicated a significant isolation of populations in the headwaters, which translates into a low genetic diversity, a small effective population size and a high rate of inbreeding. We also found an unexpected substructure in one of the downstream localities (PED-02), where the youngest individuals were genetically different. Genetic analysis confirmed that these rare individuals come from a hatchery native stock used to stocking Pedroso River. Because this stock was originated with individuals from Pedroso itself, we must consider that a strong founder effect took place. Over the years, genetic drift accentuated the genetic differentiation of this stock from the original population. From our results, we made some recommendation for the management and conservation of brown trout in the Pedroso River, based on the removal of the main barriers that isolate the upstream populations, after stopping the restocking carried out with 'native invaders' fish from the local hatchery 2025-02-12T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10256/26716 Diversity of freshwater epsilonproteobacteria and dark inorganic carbon fixation in the sulphidic redoxcline of a meromictic karstic lake Noguerola Solà, Imma; Picazo, Antonio; Llirós Dupré, Marc; Camacho, Antonio; Borrego i Moré, Carles Sulfidic redoxclines are a suitable niche for the growth and activity of different chemo- and photolithotrophic sulphide-oxidizing microbial groups such as the Epsilonproteobacteria and the green sulfur bacteria (GSB). We have investigated the diversity, abundance and contribution to inorganic carbon uptake of Epsilonproteobacteria in a meromictic basin of Lake Banyoles. CARD-FISH counts revealed that Epsilonproteobacteria were prevalent at the redoxcline in winter (maximum abundance of 2 × 106 cells mL−1, ≈60% of total cells) but they were nearly absent in summer, when GSB bloomed. This seasonal trend was supported by 16S rRNA gene pyrotag datasets, which revealed that the epsilonproteobacterial community was mainly composed of a member of the genus Arcobacter. In situ incubations using NaH14CO3 and MAR-CARD-FISH observations showed that this population assimilated CO2 in the dark, likely being mainly responsible for the autotrophic activity at the redoxcline in winter. Clone libraries targeting the aclB gene provided additional evidence of the potential capacity of these epsilonproteobacteria to fix carbon via rTCA cycle. Our data reinforce the key role of Epsilonproteobacteria in linking carbon and sulphur cycles, extend their influence to freshwater karstic lakes and raise questions about the actual contribution of chemolithotrophy at their redoxcline and euxinic water compartments 2015-08-04T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10256/26670 Usefulness of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry in the Characterization of Leishmania Strains Causing Tegumentary Leishmaniasis in Bolivia versus hsp70 Gene Sequencing Torrico, Mary Cruz; Fernández-Arévalo, Anna; Ballart, Cristina; Ballart, Marco; Abras Feliu, Alba; Gonzales, Fabiola; Arnau, Albert; Tebar, Sílvia; Llovet, Teresa; Lozano, Daniel; Ariza-Vioque, Eva; Gascón i Brustenga, Joaquim; Picado, Albert; Torrico, Faustino; Muñoz, Carmen; Gállego, Montserrat Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a proteomic technique with proven efficiency in the identification of microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and parasites. The present study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of MALDI-TOF MS for the characterization of Leishmania species circulating in Bolivia using hsp70 gene sequencing as a reference technique. 55 Leishmania strains that were isolated from patients with tegumentary leishmaniasis were analyzed. MALDI-TOF MS identified two species of the L. braziliensis complex (L. braziliensis, n = 26; L. braziliensis outlier, n = 18), one species of the L. guyanensis complex (L. guyanensis, n = 1), one species of the L. lainsoni complex (L. lainsoni, n = 2), and two species of the L. mexicana complex (L. amazonensis, n = 5; and L. garnhami, n = 3). All of the strains were correctly identified at the subgenus, genus, and complex level, but 10 of them (18%) were misidentified as other species within the same complex by the hsp70 gene sequencing, with 7 of these corresponding to possible hybrids. Thus, one L. braziliensis corresponded to L. peruviana, two L. braziliensis corresponded to L. braziliensis/L. peruviana possible hybrids, two L. amazonensis corresponded to L. mexicana, and three L. garnhami and two L. amazonensis corresponded to L. mexicana/L. amazonensis possible hybrids. Accordingly, MALDI-TOF MS could be used as an alternative to molecular techniques for the identification of Leishmania spp., as it is low cost, simple to apply, and able to quickly produce results. In Bolivia, its application would allow for the improvement of the management of patient follow-ups, the updating of the epidemiological data of the Leishmania species, and a contribution to the control of tegumentary leishmaniasis 2023-01-12T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10256/26476 The Sarcoplasmic/Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) is present in pig sperm and modulates their physiology over liquid preservation Garriga, Ferran; Martínez-Hernández, Jesús.; Parra-Balaguer, Ainhoa; Llavanera, Marc; Yeste Oliveras, Marc Liquid storage is the primary preservation method in the swine breeding industry because of its advantages over cryopreservation. Calcium (Ca2+), a key regulator of cell physiology, plays a crucial role during liquid preservation. Sarcoplasmic/Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+ ATPases (SERCA) belong to a family of P-type ATPases that regulate Ca2+ homeostasis within cells and have been previously described to play a function in the sperm of various mammalian species. Herein, we hypothesized that SERCA2 is present in pig sperm and is involved in the resilience of this cell to liquid preservation at 17 °C. For this purpose, sperm were incubated with different concentrations of thapsigargin (Thg; 0, 5, 25, and 50 µM) and stored at 17 °C for ten days. The presence and localization of SERCA2 were evaluated using immunoblotting and immunofluorescence, respectively. On days 0, 4, and 10, sperm motility was assessed using a computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system, and sperm viability, membrane lipid disorder, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and intracellular levels of Ca2+, superoxides and total reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated by flow cytometry. We localized SERCA2 in the acrosome and midpiece of pig sperm. Furthermore, inhibition of SERCA with Thg resulted in reduced sperm viability and membrane stability, and increased MMP, and Ca2+ and ROS levels. In conclusion, the activity of SERCA prevents the accumulation of intracellular Ca2+ in sperm, which is detrimental to sperm quality and function during liquid storage at 17 °C. We thus suggest that the function of SERCA is crucial for the preservation of pig semen 2025-02-04T00:00:00Z