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Biology subjects

Cordero, D.

Publications and source records attributed to Cordero, D..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Transcriptional profiling of populations in the clam Ruditapes decussatus suggests genetically determined differentiation in gene-expression along parallel temperature gradients and between races of the Atlantic Ocean and West Mediterranean sea

Ongoing ocean warming due to climate change poses new challenges for marine life and its exploitation. We have used transcriptomics to find genetically-based responses to increased temperature in natural populations of the marine clam Ruditapes decussatus living along parallel thermal gradients in southern Europe. Clams of the Atlantic and West Mediterranean races were collected in a northern (cool) and a southern (warm) localities. The animals were kept in running seawater in the warm, Atlantic southern locality for a 15-week period, during which water temperature raised to typical southern European summer values. After this period, the expression profile was obtained for a total of 34 clams and 11,025 probes by means of an oligonucleotide microarray. We found distinct transcriptional patterns for each population based on a total of 553 differentially expressed genes (DEG), indicating innate differences which probably have a genetic basis. Race and latitude contributed significantly to gene expression differences, with very different sets of DEG. A gene ontology analysis showed that races differed mainly at genes involved in ribosomal function and protein biosynthesis, while genes related to glutathione metabolism and ATP synthesis in the mitochondria were the most outstanding as to north/south transcriptional differences.

genomics↗

A multimodal imaging and analysis pipeline for creating a cellular census of the human cerebral cortex

Cells are not uniformly distributed in the human cerebral cortex. Rather, they are arranged in a regional and laminar fashion that span a range of scales. Here we demonstrate an innovative imaging and analysis pipeline to construct a reliable cell census across the human cerebral cortex. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to establish a macroscopic reference coordinate system of laminar and cytoarchitectural boundaries. Cell counting is obtained with both traditional immunohistochemistry, to provide a stereological gold-standard, and with a custom-made inverted confocal light-sheet fluorescence microscope (LSFM) for 3D imaging at cellular resolution. Finally, mesoscale optical coherence tomography (OCT) enables the registration of the distorted histological cell typing obtained with LSFM to the MRI-based atlas coordinate system.

neuroscience↗

Efficacy of CDK4/6 inhibitors in preclinical models of malignant pleural mesothelioma

There is no effective therapy for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) who progressed to platinum-based chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Here, we investigate the antitumor activity of CDK4/6 inhibitors using in vitro and in vivo preclinical models of MPM. Based on publicly available transcriptomic data of MPM, patients with CDK4 or CDK6 overexpression had shorter overall survival. Treatment with abemaciclib or palbociclib at 100 nM significantly decreased cell proliferation in all cell models. Both CDK4/6 inhibitors significantly induced G1 cell cycle arrest thereby increasing cell senescence and increased the expression of interferon signaling pathway and tumor antigen presentation process in culture models of MPM. In vivo preclinical studies showed that palbociclib significantly reduced tumor growth and prolonged overall survival in a platinum-naive and platinum resistant MPM mouse model. Treatment of MPM with CDK4/6 inhibitors decreased cell proliferation, mainly by promoting cell cycle arrest at G1 and by induction of cell senescence. Our preclinical studies provide evidence for evaluating CDK4/6 inhibitors in the clinic for the treatment of MPM.

cancer biology↗

Development and pre-clinical characterization of two therapeutic equine formulations towards SARS-CoV-2 proteins for the potential treatment of COVID-19

In the current global emergency due to SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, passive immunotherapy emerges as a promising treatment for COVID-19. Among animal-derived products, equine formulations are still the cornerstone therapy for treating envenomations due to animal bites and stings. Therefore, drawing upon decades of experience in manufacturing snake antivenom, we developed and preclinically evaluated two anti-SARS-CoV-2 polyclonal equine formulations as potential alternative therapy for COVID-19. We immunized two groups of horses with either S1 (anti-S1) or a mixture of S1, N, and SEM mosaic (anti-Mix) viral recombinant proteins. Horses reached a maximum anti-viral antibody level at 7 weeks following priming, and showed no major adverse acute or chronic clinical alterations. Two whole-IgG formulations were prepared via hyperimmune plasma precipitation with caprylic acid and then formulated for parenteral use. Both preparations had similar physicochemical and microbiological quality and showed ELISA immunoreactivity towards S1 protein and the receptor binding domain (RBD). The anti-Mix formulation also presented immunoreactivity against N protein. Due to high anti-S1 and anti-RBD antibody content, final products exhibited high in vitro neutralizing capacity of SARS-CoV-2 infection, 80 times higher than a pool of human convalescent plasma. Pre-clinical quality profiles were similar among both products, but clinical efficacy and safety must be tested in clinical trials. The technological strategy we describe here can be adapted by other producers, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

microbiology↗