University of Barcelona

11 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Immunology and Infection

Cost-effective Method for Microbial Source Tracking Using Specific Human and Animal Viruses

Sílvia Bofill-Mas¹, Ayalkibet Hundesa¹, Byron Calgua¹, Marta Rusiñol¹, Carlos Maluquer de Motes¹, Rosina Girones¹

¹Laboratory of Water and Food Viral Pollution, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona

The study describes a cost-effective method for the identification of the source of fecal/urine contamination or contamination by nitrates in water using qPCR for the specific quantification of human/porcine/bovine DNA viruses, adenoviruses and polyomaviruses, proposed as MST tools.

Medicine

An Anatomical Study of Nerves at Risk During Minimally Invasive Hallux Valgus Surgery

Miki Dalmau-Pastor^1,2,3, Jordi Vega^1,4, Francesc Malagelada^1,5, Fernando Peña⁶, Maria Cristina Manzanares-Céspedes¹

¹Laboratory of Arthroscopic and Surgical Anatomy. Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics (Human Anatomy and Embryology Unit), University of Barcelona, ²Health Sciences Faculty of Manresa, University of Vic-Central University of Catalunya, ³Groupe de Recherche et d'Etude en Chirurgie Mini-Invasive du Pied, GRECMIP, ⁴Foot and Ankle Unit, Hospital Quirón Barcelona, ⁵Foot and Ankle Unit, Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, ⁶Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Foot and Ankle Unit, University of Minnesota

Minimally invasive surgical (MIS) procedures rely on anatomical references to localize structures not directly visible to the surgeon. This manuscript describes a combined method of plane-by-plane dissection and sectional anatomy of fresh-frozen specimens to locate the structures at risk during MIS procedures.

Environment

Cereal Crop Ear Counting in Field Conditions Using Zenithal RGB Images

José A. Fernandez-Gallego^1,2,3, María Luisa Buchaillot^1,2, Adrian Gracia-Romero^1,2, Thomas Vatter^1,2, Omar Vergara Diaz^1,2, Nieves Aparicio Gutiérrez⁴, María Teresa Nieto-Taladriz⁵, Samir Kerfal⁶, Maria Dolors Serret^1,2, José Luis Araus^1,2, Shawn C. Kefauver^1,2

¹Plant Physiology Section, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, ²Agrotecnio, ³Programa de Ingeniería Electrónica, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Ibagué, ⁴Instituto Tecnológico Agrario de Castilla y León (ITACyL), ⁵Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), ⁶Syngenta Spain

We present a protocol for counting durum wheat and barley ears, using natural color (RGB) digital photographs taken in natural sunlight under field conditions. With minimal adjustments for camera parameters and some environmental condition limitations, the technique provides precise and consistent results across a range of growth stages.

Immunology and Infection

VirWaTest, A Point-of-Use Method for the Detection of Viruses in Water Samples

David Aguado¹, Eva Fores¹, Laura Guerrero-Latorre^1,2, Marta Rusiñol¹, Sandra Martínez-Puchol¹, Francesc Codony^3,4, Rosina Girones¹, Sílvia Bofill-Mas¹

¹Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food (VIRCONT), Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Section of Microbiology, Virology and Biotechnology, University of Barcelona, ²Grupo de Investigación Biodiversidad, Medio Ambiente y Salud (BIOMAS), Facultad de Ingenierías y Ciencias Agropecuarias (FICA), Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Universidad de las Américas, ³Municipal Laboratory - Waters of Mataró, ⁴GenIUL

Here we present VirWaTest, which is a simple, affordable and portable method for the concentration and detection of viruses from water samples at the point of use.

Neuroscience

Generation of 3-D Collagen-based Hydrogels to Analyze Axonal Growth and Behavior During Nervous System Development

Vanessa Gil^1,2,3,4, José Antonio Del Río^1,2,3,4

¹Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Parc Científic de Barcelona, ²Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, Universitat de Barcelona, ³Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), ⁴Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona

Here, we provide a method for analyzing the behavior of growing axons in 3D matrices, mimicking their natural development.

Neuroscience

Meta-analysis of Voxel-Based Neuroimaging Studies using Seed-based d Mapping with Permutation of Subject Images (SDM-PSI)

Anton Albajes-Eizagirre^1,2, Aleix Solanes^1,2, Miquel Angel Fullana^2,3, John P. A. Ioannidis⁴, Paolo Fusar-Poli^5,6,7, Carla Torrent^1,2,3,8, Brisa Solé^1,2,3,8, Caterina Mar Bonnín^1,2,3,8, Eduard Vieta^1,2,3,8, David Mataix-Cols⁹, Joaquim Radua^1,2,5,9

¹Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), ²Mental Health Research Networking Center (CIBERSAM), ³Institute of Neurosciences, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, ⁴Departments of Medicine, of Health Research and Policy, and of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University School of Medicine, and Department of Statistics, Stanford University School of Humanities and Sciences, ⁵Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, ⁶OASIS Service, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, ⁷Department of Nervous System and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, ⁸University of Barcelona, ⁹Centre for Psychiatric Research and Education, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet

We detail how to conduct a meta-analysis of voxel-based neuroimaging studies using Seed-based d Mapping with Permutation of Subject Images (SDM-PSI).

Cancer Research

In Vitro Evaluation of Oncogenic Transformation in Human Mammary Epithelial Cells

Joan Repullés^1,2, Mariona Terradas^1,3,4, Gemma Fuster^5,6,7, Anna Genescà¹, Teresa Anglada¹

¹Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, ²Optical Microscopy Core Facilities, IDIBELL, ³Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, IDIBELL, ⁴Program in Molecular Mechanisms and Experimental Therapy in Oncology (Oncobell), IDIBELL, ⁵New Therapeutic Strategies in Cancer Group. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, School of Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona (IBUB), ⁶Department of Biochemistry & Physiology, School of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, ⁷Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Vic

This protocol provides experimental in vitro tools to evaluate the transformation of human mammary cells. Detailed steps to follow-up cell proliferation rate, anchorage-independent growth capacity, and distribution of cell lineages in 3D cultures with basement membrane matrix are described.

Engineering

Glass-Based Devices to Generate Drops and Emulsions

Josefa Guerrero¹, Javier Rojo², Alexis de la Cotte², Luis Manuel Aguilera-Sáez³, Enric Vila³, Alberto Fernandez-Nieves^2,4,5

¹Department of Chemistry and Physics, Augusta University, ²Department of Condensed Matter Physics, University of Barcelona, ³Agrobío S.L., ⁴ICREA - Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, ⁵Institute of Complex Systems (UBICS), University of Barcelona

Here, a protocol to manufacture glass-based microfluidic devices used for generating highly monodisperse emulsions with controlled drop size is presented.

Developmental Biology

Early Unguided Human Brain Organoid Neurovascular Niche Modeling into the Permissive Chick Embryo Chorioallantoic Membrane

Luciano Fiore^1,2, Jan Arderiu³, Andrea Martí-Sarrias^3,4, Isabel Turpín^3,4, Ruth I. Pareja^3,5, Arcadi Navarro^5,6,7,8, Mariana Holubiec^2,9, Julieta Bianchelli⁹, Tomas Falzone^2,9, Gonzalo Spelzini^1,2, Gabriel Scicolone^1,2, Sandra Acosta^3,4

¹Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencias “Prof. E. De Robertis” (IBCN), CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, ²Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Biología Celular, Histología, Embriología y Genética, Universidad de Buenos Aires, ³Institute of Neurosciences, Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics Dept, University of Barcelona, ⁴Functional Neurogenomics Group, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, IDIBELL, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, ⁵IBE, Institute of Evolutionary Biology (UPF-CSIC), Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, ⁶Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA) and Universitat Pompeu Fabra, ⁷Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, ⁸BarcelonaBeta Brain Research Center, Pasqual Maragall Foundation, ⁹Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina (IBioBA) – CONICET – Instituto Partner de la Sociedad Max Planck

Here, we present a protocol to engraft human brain organoids at multiple maturation stages into the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). Brain organoids were grown following unguided standardized protocols.

Medicine

Surgical Bone Implantation Technique for Rat Tibia Models of Diabetes and Osteoporosis

David Alfaiate^1,2, Carlos Mas-Moruno^3,4, Cidália Manuela⁵, Josep Maria Ustrell^6,7, Juan Antonio Camara^8,9, Marina Ferrer^10,11, José Maria Manero^3,4, Maria-Cristina Manzanares-Céspedes¹²

¹Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, ²Department of Oral Surgery, Davallmed Clinic. Porto, ³Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, ⁴Barcelona Research Centre in Multiscale Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, ⁵Department of Periodontology, Davallmed Clinic. Porto, ⁶Department of Odontostomatology, University of Barcelona, ⁷Oral Health and Masticatory System Research Group at the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), ⁸Preclinical imaging platform, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Barcelona, ⁹Preclinical Therapeutics Core, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, ¹⁰Animal facility, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Barcelona, ¹¹UCSF Gnotobiotics Core Facility, University of California, San Francisco, ¹²Human Anatomy and Embryology Unit, Experimental Pathology and Therapeutics Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona

The placement of implants in a rat model is an essential experimental procedure for clinical research. This study presents a comprehensive surgical protocol for implanting titanium implants into the tibia of rat models with diabetes and osteoporosis.

Chemistry

Synthesis of Black Seed Oil-loaded-, Alginate-based, pH-sensitive Beads Using Electrospraying Technique

Abul Kalam Azad¹, Mohamad Dayoob², Vinoth Kumarasamy³, Vetriselvan Subramaniyan⁴, Ghadeer M. Albadrani⁵, Muath Q. Al-Ghadi⁶, Mohamed Kamel⁷, Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim^8,9, Mireia Mallandrich Miret¹⁰, Abd Almonem Doolaanea^11,12

¹Faculty of Pharmacy, University College of MAIWP International, ²Faculty of Pharmacy, MAHSA University, ³Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, ⁴Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, ⁵Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, ⁶Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, ⁷Department of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, ⁸Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacy Program, Batterjee Medical College, ⁹Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, ¹⁰Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, ¹¹Research and Development, Sabrena Experience, ¹²Alphastar Lab Systems

A technique employing high electric voltage and a targeted, active ingredient-loaded emulsion to fabricate pH-responsive, uniform microbeads is presented.