María González-Sánchez

Over the centuries, three main granitoid types have been used in Salamanca city, from the following localities: (1) Los Santos, (2) Martinamor, and (3) Villavieja de Yeltes. A systematic geological comparison of these three main granite types was carried out, including the following aspects: (i) magma emplacement (border of a large batholith; sill-like body; and late rooted pluton, respectively), (ii) geochemistry and petrogenesis, (iii) petrography (biotite-bearing granite with porphyritic texture and bluish-grey color; tourmaline-bearing alkali-feldspar granite with nodular texture and white color; and two-mica granite with variable porphyritic texture and beige color, respectively), and iv) lithological and compositional comparison of the respective types and subtypes between quarry and monument. The use of these granites was connected to the following respective contexts: (1) the construction of the Roman Bridge, transporting the material through the Vía de la Plata, and its reintroduction in the Renaissance; (2) the pavement of the Roman Bridge in the 16th century, reinforcement of the Cathedral after the Lisbon earthquake (1755), and construction of the neoclassical Anaya Palace; and (3) construction of genuine eclectic monuments from Salamanca, after the railroad implementation. Additionally, two secondary granite types have been studied: The Porqueriza and Ledesma granites, which were used for the Roman Bridge in a particular way. The different properties of all the granites and their contrasting interaction of territory—quarry—monument trinomial combined with the varied construction history of Salamanca allows for a typification on the explanatory models of historical and distinctive use.

Argasid ticks Ornithodoros erraticus and Ornithodoros moubata are major vectors of zoonotic pathogens, including the African swine fever virus and relapsing fever Borrelia spp., and their control is essential to reduce disease transmission. In this study, we evaluated the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of four Ornithodoros tick antigens formulated as mRNA–lipid nanoparticles (mRNA-LNPs): OeSOD, OeTSP1, OmPLA2, and Om86. Rabbits were immunised with three doses of each mRNA-LNP construct, and immune responses and tick biological parameters were assessed following infestation with both tick species. All mRNA-LNP constructs induced antigen-specific IgG responses that recognised native proteins in tick saliva and midgut extracts. Vaccination resulted in significant reductions in female oviposition and fertility, which correlated with antibody levels, and yielded protective efficacies of 21.9–41.6% against O. moubata and 23.1–41.6% against O. erraticus. Notably, the mRNA-LNPs of OeSOD and OeTSP1 outperformed their recombinant counterparts against O. moubata, and Om86 mRNA-LNP conferred markedly improved protection against both O. moubata and O. erraticus. These findings highlight the potential of mRNA-LNP vaccines to induce effective anti-argasid tick immunity and provide a promising platform for the development of sustainable strategies to control argasid ticks and associated pathogens.

Building and ornamental stones are important elements of cultural heritage and geoheritage, hence the importance of its study. Vaugneritic rocks used in the city of Salamanca (World Heritage City, 1988) have been a singular building material during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. They come from a small pluton (1.5 km²) with complex zoning, located about 40 km west of Salamanca. Petrographically, they are quart-zmonzodiorites to quartz-monzonites, with notable variations in texture (from coarse- to fine-grained vaugnerite), biotite versus amphibole, and color index (from 19 to 44). Geochemically, the pluton shows a high degree of differentiation regarding other vaugnerites from the Iberian Massif, including rock facies up to 61% in SiO₂. Its ambivalent technical and aesthetic characteristics have been used in monuments in the following senses: 1) as a durable material, used for plinths, pavements, and the rebuilding of the Roman Bridge; 2) as a selected material for the columns, jambs and lintels of Renaissance-style palaces, as occurred in the neighbouring city of Zamora, where another vaugnerite stone was used; and 3) for Proto-Baroque and mature Baroque doorways and arches due to the chromatic contrasts. Concerning the evolution of quarrying, first, the coarse-grained internal facies, outcropping as prominent boulders, were exploited for the large blocks of the classicist monuments; then, during the Baroque period, the stone quarrying work focused on the fine-grained rim facies, with sheeting joints, for basement ashlars. The continuity of the vaugnerite for almost four centuries contributed to the harmonization of the Salamanca varietas, an artistically high-valuated concept, but little recognized by this recurring stone.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by inhibiting or degrading messenger RNAs (mRNAs). In ticks, salivary miRNAs are proposed to play key roles in modulating host–vector interactions during blood feeding. Previously, we identified salivary miRNAs in Ornithodoros moubata and Ornithodoros erraticus, major vectors of African swine fever and tick-borne human relapsing fever. In this study, we investigated the regulatory roles of salivary miRNAs in tick biology. Salivary miRNA datasets were re-analysed to identify conserved miRNAs, and putative target genes were predicted using the sialotranscriptomes of both species. In silico predictions were validated through experimental inhibition of specific miRNAs using antagomirs. Knockdown of miR-375 and miR-1 significantly reduced blood intake, oviposition, and fertility, indicating their involvement in feeding and reproductive processes. Silencing miR-252b in O. moubata led to increased mortality, suggesting a critical role in survival. Notably, Metis1 was identified as a likely target of miR-252b, and its dysregulation may underlie the observed lethality in miR-252b-silenced ticks. These findings highlight the functional relevance of salivary miRNAs in tick physiology and host interaction, offering new perspectives for the development of innovative tick control strategies.

Ornithodoros moubata transmits African swine fever and human relapsing fever in Africa. The elimination of O. moubata populations from anthropic environments is expected to improve the prevention and control of these diseases. Tick vaccines have emerged as a sustainable method for tick control, and tick aquaporins (AQPs) are promising targets for tick vaccines due to their vital functions, immunogenicity and ease of access by neutralising host antibodies. This study aimed at the systematic identification of the AQPs expressed by O. moubata (OmAQPs) and their characterisation as vaccine targets. Therefore, AQP coding sequences were recovered from available transcriptomic datasets, followed by PCR amplification, cloning, sequence verification and the analysis of the AQP protein structure and epitope exposure. Seven OmAQPs were identified and characterised: six were aquaglyceroporins, and one was a water-specific aquaporin. All of these were expressed in the salivary glands and midgut and only three in the coxal glands. Epitope exposure analysis identified three extracellular domains in each AQP, which concentrate overlapping B and T cell epitopes, making them interesting vaccine targets. Based on these domain sequences, a set of ten antigenic peptides was designed, which showed adequate properties to be produced and tested in pilot vaccine trials.

Heredero de su historia (pos)colonial, el término panhispanismo requiere una compleja interpretación. Su trascendencia glotopolítica supone planteamientos ideológicos y lingüísticos de naturaleza semiótica que abordamos en este artículo. Hacemos un recorrido histórico del movimiento Panhispanismo desde sus orígenes hasta hoy y acotamos su aplicación al ámbito lingüístico otorgándole tres dimensiones, como actitud, variedad y rasgo compartido. En un marco aplicado a la enseñanza-aprendizaje de E-LE/L2, los panhispanismos léxicos son especialmente rentables. Presentamos los datos de su estudio y marcación como resultado del proyecto GEOLEXI en los cinco primeros temas de los inventarios de las Nociones específicas del PCIC. Heir to its (post-)colonial history, the term panhispanism requires a complex interpretation. Its glotopolitical significance supposes ideological and linguistic approaches of a semiotic nature that we address in this article. We take a historical tour of the Panhispanism movement from its origins to the present time and narrow down its application to the linguistic field by giving it three dimensions, such as attitude, variety and shared trait. In a framework applied to the teaching-learning of E-LE/L2, lexical panhispanisms are especially profitable. We present the data of its study and marking as a result of the GEOLEXI project in the first five subjects of the inventories of the specific PCIC notions.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a neglected zoonotic disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato. Diagnosis and monitoring of CE rely primarily on imaging while serology is used as a confirmatory test. However, imaging is not always conclusive and currently available serological assays have suboptimal sensitivity and specificity, lack standardization, and are not useful for patients´ follow-up. Seroassays for CE are usually based on hydatid fluid (HF), a complex, variable antigenic mixture, and cross-reactivity exists especially with alveolar echinococcosis. Recombinant proteins based on immunogenic antigens most abundant in HF, such as AgB1, AgB2 and Ag5, have been used to overcome these limitations. None of them so far showed potential to replace HF; however, their performance have been largely tested on a limited number of samples, and comparison of different antigens using the same cohort has been rarely performed. The combination of several immunogenic epitopes in a single recombinant protein could enhance test sensitivity. For the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with CE, we compared the performance of the crude HF, previously described recombinant 2B2t antigen, and GST-tagged version of 2B2t, and novel designed recombinants (GST-Ag5t and the GST-DIPOL chimera containing AgB1, AgBB2 and Ag5 epitopes) by IgG-ELISA format. Samples belong to a retrospective cohort of 253 well-characterized patients with CE, previously described for the evaluation of the 2B2t antigen, 92 patients with alveolar echinococcosis, and 82 healthy donors. The reference standard for CE diagnosis was the presence of a CE lesion as diagnosed by ultrasonography. The highest sensitivity was obtained with HF [86.7%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 81.2–91.0], followed by GST-2B2t (70.0%, 95% CI: 63.1–76.2), 2B2t (65.5%, 95% CI: 58.5–72.0), GST-Ag5t (64.5%, 95% CI: 57.5–71.1) and GST-DIPOL (63.1%, 95% CI: 56.0–69.7). The GST-2B2t had the best specificity (95.8%, 95% CI: 88.3–99.1) and the lowest cross-reactivity (38.7%, 95% CI: 27.6–50.6). Good response to treatment also correlated to negative test results in the GST-2B2t ELISA. While none of the tested recombinant antigen appears suitable to replace HF for the diagnosis of CE, GST-2B2t should be further explored as a confirmation test, based on its high specificity and low cross-reactivity, and for the follow-up after treatment in those patients with positive serology for this antigen.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is one of the most widespread helminthic zoonoses and is caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus complex. CE diagnosis and monitoring primarily rely on imaging techniques, complemented by serology. This is usually approached by the detection of IgG antibodies against hydatid fluid (HF), but the use of this heterogeneous antigenic mixture results in a variable percentage of false positive and negative results, and has shown to be useless for follow-up due to the long persistence of anti-HF antibodies in cured patients. To improve test performances and standardization, a number of recombinant antigens mainly derived from HF have been described, among them the B2t and 2B2t antigens. The performance of these antigens in the diagnosis and follow up of patients with CE has been so far evaluated on a limited number of samples. Here, we evaluated the performances of tests based on B2t and 2B2t recombinant antigens compared to HF in IgG-ELISA and immunochromatography (IC) for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with CE in a retrospective cohort study. A total of 721 serum samples were collected: 587 from 253 patients with CE diagnosed by ultrasonography (US), 42 from patients with alveolar echinococcosis and 92 from healthy donors from Salamanca (Spain). The highest overall sensitivity was obtained with HF in ELISA (85.5%), followed by IC containing HF and 2B2t-HF (83.0% and 78.2%, respectively). The lowest sensitivity was obtained with B2t and 2B2t in ELISA (51.8%). The highest specificity was obtained with IC containing 2B2t-HF (100%), and the lowest with HF-ELISA (78.0%). The lowest cross-reactivity with sera from patients with alveolar echinococcosis was detected with the recombinant antigens in ELISA (9.5% - 16.7%) and the highest with the HF-IC (64.3%). The results of B2t and 2B2t-ELISA were influenced by cyst stage, as classified by US according to the WHO-Informal Working Group on Echinococcosis (WHO-IWGE), with low sensitivity for inactive (CE4 and CE5) cysts, and by the drug treatment, with higher sensitivity in patients after drug treatment compared with patients not subjected to drug treatment. The two recombinant antigens in ELISA provided promising results for monitoring patients in follow-up, although their use is limited to patients with positive serology against them at the beginning of the follow-up. Potential biological reasons behind the low sensitivity of the recombinant antigens and possible strategies to enhance the performance of CE serology are discussed. Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a helminthic zoonosis caused by Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato. CE diagnosis and monitoring is of paramount importance for the clinical management of patients and primarily rely on imaging techniques, complemented by serology. CE serology is usually based on the detection of antibodies against hydatid fluid (HF), but the use of this heterogeneous antigenic mixture shows several drawbacks, including false positive and negative results, unsatisfied predictive values, and long persistence of detectable antibody levels in cured patients. As an alternative, to improve test performances and standardization, several recombinant antigens have been described, but these have been so far evaluated only on a limited number of samples. Here, two recombinant antigens derived from one of the immunodominant HF antigens (antigen B2) have been tested in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and in immunochromatographic strips (IC) against 721 serum samples. Although more specific than the HF, the recombinant antigens in ELISA showed low sensitivity for patients with inactive (CE4 and CE5) cysts and for patients not subjected to drug treatment. This limited their use for follow-up, although promising, to those patients with positive serology at the beginning of the follow-up period. These results will aid in the future development of a serological test with enhanced performance in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with CE.