Browsing by Subject "Biotechnology"
Now showing 1 - 13 of 13
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- PublicationOpen AccessA compressive review about Taxol® : history and future challenges(MDPI, 2020-12-17) Gallego Jara, Julia; Lozano Terol, Gema; Cánovas Díaz, Manuel; Diego Puente, Teresa de; Gallego Jara, Julia; Sola Martínez, Rosa Alba; Bioquímica y Biología Molecular B e InmunologíaTaxol®, which is also known as paclitaxel, is a chemotherapeutic agent widely used to treat different cancers. Since the discovery of its antitumoral activity, Taxol® has been used to treat over one million patients, making it one of the most widely employed antitumoral drugs. Taxol® was the first microtubule targeting agent described in the literature, with its main mechanism of action consisting of the disruption of microtubule dynamics, thus inducing mitotic arrest and cell death. However, secondary mechanisms for achieving apoptosis have also been demonstrated. Despite its wide use, Taxol® has certain disadvantages. The main challenges facing Taxol® are the need to find an environmentally sustainable production method based on the use of microorganisms, increase its bioavailability without exerting adverse effects on the health of patients and minimize the resistance presented by a high percentage of cells treated with paclitaxel. This review details, in a succinct manner, the main aspects of this important drug, from its discovery to the present day. We highlight the main challenges that must be faced in the coming years, in order to increase the effectiveness of Taxol® as an anticancer agent.
- PublicationOpen AccessAgricultura transgénica e impactos socioambientales: una lectura a partir del Cerrado/Brasil(Murcia: Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Murcia, 2018) Mendonça Oliveira de Souza, Murilo; De Melo e Silva Neto, Carlos; Melgarejo, LeonardoLa modernización de la agricultura tuvo como base un movimiento de artificialización de las relaciones con la naturaleza. La adopción del paquete tecnológico de la revolución verde a mediados de los años 1960 y, más recientemente (la segunda revolución verde) con el paquete de los transgénicos, facilitó el camino para la concentración de poder del agronegocio y para una infinidad de impactos socioambientales. Los Estados del Cerrado Brasilero han representado la mayor área cultivada con transgénicos en el país (63%) acumulando impactos sociales y ambientales provenientes de este proceso. Este texto se propone reflexionar sobre estas cuestiones, con especial interés en los impactos socioambientales derivados del avance de los cultivos transgénicos en esta parte del territorio. Los resultados muestran que no ocurrió el esperado aumento en la productividad con la utilización de plantas genéticamente modificadas. Por el contrario ocurrió una elevación del consumo de abonos químicos y agrotóxicos relacionada a la adopción de las semillas transgénicas. Se redujeron oportunidades de ocupaciones productivas, concentrando las actividades económicas en cadenas del agronegocio refractarias al perfil de los campesinos, pueblos y comunidades tradicionales que constituyen la mayor parte de la población regional. Los impactos ambientales agravan las condiciones socioeconómicas dadas las debilidades y particularidades de éste, que es el más antiguo y especializado bioma del continente sur americano.
- PublicationRestrictedBiotechnological approaches to enhance the biosynthesis of ginkgolides and bilobalide in Ginkgo biloba(Springer, 2013-02-09) Souliman Youssef, Sabry; Novo Uzal, Esther; Almagro Romero, Lorena; Belchí Navarro, Sarai; Pedreño García, María Ángeles; Sabater Jara, Ana Belén; Biología VegetalGinkgo biloba is one of the oldest living tree species and its extracts or powdered leaves are one of the best selling herbal preparations. The main bioactive constituents are flavonoids and the terpene trilactones, ginkgolides and bilobalide, which are responsible for their pharmacological activity. However, there are many difficulties for ginkgo leaves supply and the chemical synthesis is far from of being applicable for commercial-scale production. G. biloba cell cultures have arisen as a useful alternative source of pharmacologically active terpene trilactones. This review sheds light on the chemistry and biosynthesis of terpene trilactones with the aim of increasing the production of these high value compounds by biotechnological approaches. Different biotechnological strategies to improve ginkgolides and bilobalide production will be discussed, including screening and selection of in vitro ginkgo cultures, cell differentiation levels of these cultures, optimization of culture conditions, feeding and elicitation strategies. Special attention will be paid in developing new methodologies to enhance ginkgo cell biomass and provide high amounts of these bioactive terpene trilactones using large-scale cell cultures.
- PublicationOpen AccessCompressive Review about Taxol: History and Future Challenges(2020-12-17) Lozano-Terol, G.; Sola-Martinez, R. A.; Cánovas-Díaz, M.; Diego Puente, Teresa de; Gallego Jara, Julia; Bioquímica y Biología Molecular B e InmunologíaTaxol®, which is also known as paclitaxel, is a chemotherapeutic agent widely used to treat different cancers. Since the discovery of its antitumoral activity, Taxol® has been used to treat over one million patients, making it one of the most widely employed antitumoral drugs. Taxol® was the first microtubule targeting agent described in the literature, with its main mechanism of action consisting of the disruption of microtubule dynamics, thus inducing mitotic arrest and cell death. However, secondary mechanisms for achieving apoptosis have also been demonstrated. Despite its wide use, Taxol® has certain disadvantages. The main challenges facing Taxol® are the need to find an environmentally sustainable production method based on the use of microorganisms, increase its bioavailability without exerting adverse effects on the health of patients and minimize the resistance presented by a high percentage of cells treated with paclitaxel. This review details, in a succinct manner, the main aspects of this important drug, from its discovery to the present day. We highlight the main challenges that must be faced in the coming years, in order to increase the effectiveness of Taxol® as an anticancer agent.
- PublicationOpen AccessDefinición de conceptos jurídicos vs. Listado de enfermedades susceptibles como soluciones respecto al uso del diagnóstico genético preimplantacional(2018-03-08) Jiménez González, JoaquínLa Ley española 14/2006, de 26 de mayo, sobre técnicas de reproducción humana asistida, acepta la realización de un diagnóstico genético preimplantacional (DGP) cuando se trata de evitar una enfermedad genética grave, de aparición precoz y sin curación postnatal actual, aparte de los supuestos con informe favorable de la Comisión Nacional de Reproducción Humana Asistida (CNRHA). Sin embargo, estos conceptos no han sido definidos. Ello ha originado diferencias en la interpretación de la Ley por parte de las clínicas y unidades de reproducción humana asistida que practican la prueba, repercutiendo en las posibilidades de las personas para acceder a un DGP. La definición de estos criterios parece esencial para garantizar el principio de justicia, aunque también cabe la posibilidad de crear un listado de enfermedades susceptibles por parte de a CNRHA, deber legal que aún no se ha realizado
- PublicationRestrictedEngineering of microbial cell factories for production of plant-based natural products(Elsevier, 2021) Gallego Jara, Julia; Lozano Terol, Gema; Sola Martínez, Rosa Alba; Cánovas Díaz, Manuel; Diego Puente, Teresa de; Bioquímica y Biología Molecular B e Inmunología; Facultades de la UMU::Facultad de MedicinaBiotechnology has become a promising alternative to produce highly valuable products. Production using microorganisms competes with chemical synthesis and extraction from natural sources, leading to cheaper and more sustainable production. To produce natural plant products using microorganisms, the development of molecular biology techniques that allow us to genetically and metabolically modify host microorganisms is essential. Thus many biotechnological processes have been developed to obtain terpenes, alkaloids, or polyphenols with interesting applications in the pharmaceutical, food, or cosmetic industries. The increase in our knowledge regarding the metabolism of host organisms, together with the continuous development of genetic and metabolic engineering techniques, will allow, in the coming years, biotechnology to be positioned as the main way to obtain high-value plant natural products.
- PublicationOpen AccessExploring in the classroom the relationship between alcohol intake and behavioral disorders through an animal model(Wiley, International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB), 2024-03-19) Hernández García, Samanta; Guerrero-Rubio, M. Alejandra; Henarejos Escudero, Paula; Martínez Rodríguez, Pedro; Gandía Herrero, Fernando; Bioquímica y Biología Molecular AAlcohol consumption has profound effects on behavior, such as impaired judg-ment, addiction or even death. It is estimated that alcohol contributes to around three million deaths worldwide, 13.5% of them in young people with ages between 20 and 39 years. Consequently, it is necessary to raise awareness among college and high school students of the risk related to alcohol drinking. The small nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is an animal widely used as amodel organism to study nearly all aspects of Biochemistry. It is a powerfultool to test the potential bioactivity and molecular mechanisms of natural com-pounds and drugs in vivo. Therefore, it is an interesting topic to include in an undergraduate course of Biotechnology, Biochemistry or Biology students among other scientific vocations. C. elegans is also used as a neurobiological model to evaluate substances´ neurotoxicity and behavioral effects. The pro-posed experiment introduces students to the handling of this preclinical modeland to the evaluation of behavioral alterations induced by chemicals in scien-tific research. The effects of different doses of ethanol on C. elegans behavior are studied using a versatile chemotaxis assay. This laboratory experiment issuitable for an undergraduate course. The practical session can be used in theglobal strategies of information and awareness of educational centres to miti-gate the impact of alcohol abuse among students, both in formal courses or inScience fairs or exhibitions
- PublicationOpen AccessIntradermal glycine detection with a wearable microneedle biosensor: the first in vivo assay(ACS Publications, 2022-08-18) Wang, Qianyu; Molinero-Fernandez, Agueda; Casanova, Ana; Titulaer, Joep; Campillo-Brocal, Jonatan C.; Konradsson-Geuken, Åsa; Crespo, Gaston A.; Cuartero, María; Genética y MicrobiologíaGlycine (GLY) is gaining importance in medical diagnoses due to its relationship with multiple physiological functions. Today, GLY is exclusively analyzed using instrumentation centralized in clinical labs, and a tangible point-of-care tool that gathers real-time data from the patient for effective and fast evaluations is lacking. Relevant clinical advances are expected as soon as the rapid provision of both punctual and continuous measurements is possible. In that context, this work presents a microneedle (MN)-based biosensor for intradermal GLY detection in interstitial fluid (ISF). The MN tip is externally tailored to detect GLY levels through the hydrogen peroxide formed in its reaction with a quinoprotein-based GLY oxidase enzyme. The analytical performance of the MN biosensor indicates a fast response time (<7 s); acceptable reversibility, reproducibility, and stability; as well as a wide linear range of response (25–600 μM) that covers the physiological levels of GLY in ISF. The MN biosensor conveniently exhibits high selectivity for GLY over other compounds commonly found in ISF, and the response is not influenced by temperature, pH, or skin insertions. Validated intradermal measurements of GLY were obtained at the in vitro (with pieces of rat skin), ex vivo (on-body tests of euthanized rats) and in vivo (on-body tests of anesthetized rats) levels, demonstrating its ability to produce accurate physiological data. The developed GLY MN biosensor is skin-wearable and provides reliable, real-time intradermal GLY measurements in ISF by means of a minimally invasive approach.
- PublicationOpen AccessPatentes sobre biomateriales derivados del cuerpo humano: derechos de propiedad industrial vs. derecho a la salud en México.(Universidad de Murcia, Servicio de Publicaciones, 2020) Gutiérrez Avalos, Karen Lizeth; Arcudia Hernández, Carlos ErnestoLa concesión de patentes sobre biomateriales derivados del cuerpo humano plantea tensiones entre el derecho de propiedad industrial y el derecho a la salud. En el presente trabajo repasamos el derecho europeo de patentes como referente para interpretar la legislación mexicana en la materia. Y de otra parte, analizamos las implicaciones de concesión de biopatentes en el derecho a la salud en sus dos facetas: de acceso a los servicios de salud y de los parámetros éticos que se han de cumplir en investigaciones sobre salud en seres humanos. Por último analizamos solicitudes presentadas ante el Instituto Mexicano de la Propiedad Industrial y comprobaremos si se cumplen o no con los parámetros marcados por la legislación en materia de salud.
- PublicationRestrictedPreliminary economic assessment: a valuable tool to establish biocatalytic process feasibility with an in-lab immobilized lipase(Wiley, Society of Chemical Industry, 2018-07-27) Serrano-Arnaldos, Mar; Ortega Requena, Salvadora; Montiel Morte, María Claudia; Máximo, María Fuensanta; Bastida Rodríguez, Josefa; Murcia Almagro, María Dolores; Ingeniería Química; Facultad de QuímicaBACKGROUND: Despite the interest that commercial lipases arouse, the number of industrial applications is still very limited. Only high added value products such as cosmetic ingredients that can simultaneously benefit from ‘green chemistry’ and ‘natural’ labels of using biocatalysts can justify the final cost. In any case, process feasibility economic assessment in the first project stages must be done to take decisions about its industrial applicability. RESULTS: This work presents an economic study of the cetyl esters mixture production process similar to natural spermaceti catalyzed by different in-lab immobilized lipase derivatives to determine if they can compete, not only in catalytic properties (activity and stability) but also in price, with the commercial ones. Results highlight that CALB lipase immobilized in Amberlite™ XAD™ 1180 whose direct total cost (1.20 € g−1) is comparable with commercial lipases, is also effective in spermaceti biocatalytic synthesis achieving, under optimal conditions, 98% conversion in less than one hour. CONCLUSION: High conversion values and it reusability (at least 15 times), provides a product with a price (58 € kg−1) similar to that of the well-known Novozym® 435 (56.5 € kg−1). Future scale-up will allow better study the process and gives a more realistic product final price. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
- PublicationOpen AccessPromesas biotecnológicas. Determinismo genético, cáncer y maternidad por sustitución: un análisis crítico(Universidad de Murcia. Servicio de Publicaciones, 2017) Pérez Sedeño, EulaliaLa biotecnología, sobre todo a partir del desciframiento del genoma humano, ha ofrecido muchas promesas, en su mayoría aún sin cumplir. Mediante el análisis feminista de algunas de estas promesas y el del caso de la maternidad por sustitución, veremos cómo los objetivos, fines e imaginarios de estas biotecnologías afectan de manera desigual a las mujeres y pueden ayudar a perpetuar las desigualdades existentes y el papel subordinado de las mujeres en nuestras sociedades. Análisis de este tipo pueden alertar al res- pecto y ayudar a minimizar los daños.
- PublicationOpen AccessLa supervisión de cultivos agrícolas como práctica de vigilancia dirigida a identificar los efectos de los OMG sobre la salud humana o el medio ambiente(2017-07-20) Hernández San Juan, IsabelEl objetivo de esta comunicación es dar cuenta de la última modificación de la regulación europea sobre Organismos Modificados Genéticamente (en adelante OMG), en lo que respecta a la posibilidad de que los Estados miembros restrinjan o prohíban el cultivo de OMG en su territorio y las posibles implicaciones y relaciones entre la legislación interna española de suelos contaminados, usos del suelo y ordenación del territorio.
- PublicationOpen AccessThe green microalga Coelastrella thermophila var. globulina (Scenedesmaceae, Chlorophyta) isolated from an Algerian hot spring as a potential source of fatty acids(MDPI, 2022-04-08) Senoussi, Mohammed Mourad; González Silvera, Daniel; Boutarfa, Soumia; López Jiménez, José Ángel; Aboal Sanjurjo, Marina; Fisiología; Facultades de la UMU::Facultad de BiologíaScreening microalgae from extreme environments, including hot springs, is an important research topic that has lately emerged. A thermophilic green alga was isolated from a north-eastern Algerian hot spring at a temperature of 63 °C, and its fatty acid (FA) profile was explored. The strain was cultivated in BBM medium at 35 °C in a 16:8 h light/dark cycle and 75 μM photons m−2 s−1. The morphological studies combined with phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolate was Coelastrella thermophila var. globulina Q. Wang, H. Song, X. Liu, G. Liu and Z. Hu. The monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) content was 51.12%. The saturated fatty acid (SFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content, respectively, accounted for 27.01% and 21.87%. The main FA was oleic acid (18:1n–9), whose value was 35.95%, followed in decreasing order by palmitic acid (16:0) with 21.45%, linoleic acid (18:2n–6) with 14.38% and α-linolenic acid (18:3n–3) with 04.22%. The FA profile exhibited high total n–6 and n–3 PUFA values (15.80% and 5.76%, respectively). Coelastrella thermophila var. globulina is particularly interesting for producing n-6 and n-3 PUFA and is likely suitable for other biotechnological purposes. This is the first time that this taxon has been reported in hot springs. Other species can be expected to be reported, which emphasises the importance of the biodiversity of extreme habitats.