Publicaciones

Interest in natural biopreservatives has increased significantly due to growing consumer demand for safer and more environmentally friendly food preservation strategies. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), naturally occurring molecules (typically <10 kDa), have emerged as a promising alternative to synthetic chemical preservatives. Found in bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals, including humans, AMPs play a crucial role in innate immune defense. Their antibacterial and antioxidant effects enable them to prevent microbial spoilage and extend the shelf life of food, reducing the need for artificial additives. AMPs are biodegradable and environmentally friendly, and they specifically target harmful microorganisms, minimizing disruption to beneficial microorganisms. Despite their promising properties, challenges such as stability, cost and potential sensory impairment limit their wide application. Recent advances, such as encapsulation techniques and nanotechnology, have shown remarkable potential to improve the stability and functionality of AMPs in complex food systems. In addition, AMPs derived from edible mushrooms represent a sustainable and natural approach to food preservation and could offer effective solutions against foodborne pathogens and oxidative spoilage. This review examines the structural features, mechanisms of action and practical applications of AMPs in food protection, with a particular focus on their innovative integration with nanotechnology to address current food safety challenges.

This paper explores consumer profiles and preferences for organic food on the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain). With a growing demand for organic products driven by health-consciousness and environmental concerns, understanding the factors that influence consumer behavior in this market is crucial. This study analyzes socio-demographic characteristics and market trends to uncover the motivations behind the demand for organic food through a survey of shoppers in stores selling certified organic products. By examining consumer awareness, perceived benefits, willingness to pay premium prices, proximity consumption patterns, and meat consumption, valuable insights are gained. Findings reveal that organic purchase habits and consumer profiles mostly align with the overall Spanish profile. A specific category of consumers who claim to follow a Mediterranean diet are identified as “switchers” who oscillate between organic and conventional produce without ideological and ethical commitment. Consumers clearly differentiate between the kinds of products they prefer to buy with organic or proximity attributes. Organic meat consumption correlates with a higher income and willingness to pay for it. By identifying distinct consumer profiles within the organic food market, this study provides actionable recommendations for businesses and policymakers to tailor their strategies and foster the growth of the organic food sector.

Rising antifungal resistance prompted the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization to bring attention to the consequences of this threat to human, animal, and environmental health, and food security. In addition, there is an alarming cross-species pathogenicity. New antifungal agents are urgently needed, preferably with a low induction of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Among the most promising novel antimicrobials are the host-defense peptides, which present potent anti-infective properties and elicit low or negligible AMR. The rapid creation of libraries of host-defense peptides is highlighted by the synthesis of analogs of the immunomodulator and antimicrobial peptide rigin. Starting from smaller fragments incorporating hydroxyproline customizable units, which can be selectively cleaved and modified to give different lateral chains and N-substituents, two fragment libraries were built. Then the fragments were combined to give a library of rigin analogs, some of which displayed a potent antifungal activity not observed in the natural peptide. Surprisingly, the most active ones were N-substituted and lateral-chain protected analogs, while the free cationic peptides displayed low direct activity. This work shows that the strategy of combining site-selective peptide modification and a combinatorial approach can provide peptide-diverse libraries, where unexpected drug leads may be identified.

Quorum quenchers are emerging as an alternative to conventional antimicrobials, since they hinder the development of virulence or resistance mechanisms but without killing the microorganisms, thus, reducing the risk of antimicrobial resistance. Many quorum quenchers are analogs of the natural quorum-sensing signaling molecules or autoinducers. Thus, different analogs of natural N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) have been reported for controlling virulence or reducing the production of biofilms in Gram-negative pathogens. Herein we report the preparation of AHL analogs with a variety of N-substituents in just two steps from readily available N-substituted hydroxyproline esters. The substrates underwent an oxidative radical scission of the pyrrolidine ring. The resulting N-substituted β-aminoaldehyde underwent reduction and in situ cyclization to give a variety of homoserine lactones, with N- and N,N-substituted amino derivatives and with high optical purity. The libraries were screened for the inhibition of violacein production in Chromobacterium violaceum, a Gram-negative pathogen. For the first time, N,N-disubstituted AHL analogs were studied. Several N-sulfonyl derivatives, one carbamoyl, and one N-alkyl-N-sulfonyl homoserine lactone displayed a promising inhibitory activity. Moreover, they did not display microbicide action against S. aureus, C. jejuni, S. enterica, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans, confirming a pure QQ activity. The determination of structure–activity relationships and in silico ADME studies are also reported, which are valuable for the design of next generations QQ agents.

Selenium (Se) has important anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, plays an important role in the immune system through redox balance, and is part of selenoproteins. In patients who are critically ill, Se supplementation causes alterations in inflammatory markers such as procalcitonin, leukocyte count, albumin, prealbumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), inflammatory cytokines, and cholesterol. The decrease in Se levels leads to a reduction in the levels of various selenoenzymes, in particular glutathione peroxidase and selenoprotein P. These antioxidant selenoproteins play a protective role against the lipoperoxidation of cell membranes and also participate in the process of regulating the inflammatory response. Currently, there are no conclusive data that allow us to affirm the existence of a significant reduction in mortality with the use of Se in intensive care. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) can be used as dietary supplements or therapeutic agents due to their low toxicity and better bioavailability compared to traditional Se supplementation. In this review, we focus on the current state of research on SeNPs and their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties as a therapy for patients who are seriously ill, without the toxic effects of other Se species.

A new species of terrestrial isopod, Porcellio aguerensis Orihuela-Rivero, sp. nov. of the family Porcellionidae (Oniscidea), is described from the laurel forest of Tenerife, Canary Islands. This new species belongs to the Atlantic group (“scaber”) as defined by Vandel due to the structure of the male pleopod 1 and its “primitive” glandular system. Some diag­nostic characters that allow it to be differentiated from other species are revealed, such as (i) the smooth dorsal surface, (ii) the sinuosity of the posterior margin of the first pereonites, (iii) the configuration of the glandular system, and (iv) the structure of the male pleopod 1 exopod. The affinity of Porcellio aguerensis Orihuela-Rivero, sp. nov. with the morphologically closest members of the genus is discussed, both with continental and insular species, hypothesizing a relationship between the Canarian species of Porcellio and the “primitive” continental lineages of the genus. A key of the Porcellio species occurring in Tenerife is included. The conservation of Porcellio aguerensis Orihuela-Rivero, sp. nov. within a scenario of increasing dominance of invasive species is discussed.

Herein, we describe how minor structural modifications to our bifunctional organocatalysts based on sugar amino acids (SAAs) can alter the network of non-covalent interactions (NCIs) within the catalyst, leading to significant changes in their catalytic activity. This is attributed to the intra-catalyst NCIs, which induce conformational changes that are reflected in the transition state of the rate-determining step of the Michael addition of aldehydes to trans-β-nitrostyrenes. Through kinetic experiments, conformational analysis, and DFT calculations, we found that the presence of a methoxy group at the C4 position of the tetrahydropyran ring reduces the catalytic activity by a factor of five compared to the catalyst without the methoxy group. Additionally, we have identified the different intra-catalyst NCIs, both attractive and repulsive, that drive the conformational changes, ultimately modifying the energy levels of the transition states of the rate- and enantioselectivity-determining step of the reaction.

Herein, we describe how minor structural modifications to our bifunctional organocatalysts based on sugar amino acids (SAAs) can alter the network of non-covalent interactions (NCIs) within the catalyst, leading to significant changes in their catalytic activity. This is attributed to the intra-catalyst NCIs, which induce conformational changes that are reflected in the transition state of the rate-determining step of the Michael addition of aldehydes to trans-β-nitrostyrenes. Through kinetic experiments, conformational analysis, and DFT calculations, we found that the presence of a methoxy group at the C4 position of the tetrahydropyran ring reduces the catalytic activity by a factor of five compared to the catalyst without the methoxy group. Additionally, we have identified the different intra-catalyst NCIs, both attractive and repulsive, that drive the conformational changes, ultimately modifying the energy levels of the transition states of the rate- and enantioselectivity-determining step of the reaction.

One of the most important steps in preclinical drug discovery is to demonstrate the in vivo efficacy of potential leishmanicidal compounds and good characteristics at the level of parasite killing prior to initiating human clinical trials. This paper describes the use of dehydrothyrsiferol (DT), isolated from the red alga Laurencia viridis, in a pharmaceutical form supported on Sepigel, and the in vivo efficacy against a mouse model of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Studying the ultrastructural effect of DT was also carried out to verify the suspected damage at the cellular level and determine the severity of damages produced in the homeostasis of promastigotes. BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania amazonensis were divided into four groups: untreated mice, mice treated with miltefosine orally and mice treated topically with 1% and 0.5% DT-Sepigel; treatment was carried out for two weeks. Treatment with DT significantly reduced the parasite load in skin, liver and spleen compared with the untreated group. In addition, DT-Sepigel at the lowest concentration (0.5%) showed the best results, reducing lesion size by 87% at 3 weeks post-treatment. DT-Sepigel has demonstrated to be a potent topical treatment that, in combined drug trials, may aim at combating cutaneous leishmaniasis.

On the island of La Palma, located in the Canary Islands, Spain, the Canary pine forest is largely unmanaged and depends on natural regeneration for sustainable population dynamics. Canary pine (Pinus canariensis C.Sm. ex DC.) has been continuously exposed to volcanic eruptions over evolutionary time scales. The species exhibits many adaptations to wildfires, but the current fire regime is likely not natural. While both volcanic eruptions and wildfires can devastate existing vegetation and unbalance ecosystems, they can also facilitate plant growth through mechanisms like nutrient release and increased light availability. Occasional successful regeneration events, driven by high first-year seedling establishment following a disturbance, could be essential to maintaining population structures. We investigated the interactions of volcanic eruption and past wildfires on first-year seedling establishment in the Canary pine forest after the 2021 Cumbre Vieja volcanic eruption. We combined in-situ seedling abundance data from 117 plots (5 m radius) with remote sensing to test the hypotheses that (1) the favorable conditions created by the eruption triggered a localized pulse in first-year seedling establishment of Canary pine and (2) seedling establishment was diminished in areas affected previously by wildfires (2012 and 2016). Using a two-part approach, consisting of univariate analysis of individual factors and multivariate analysis with generalized additive models, we find evidence consistent with our hypotheses. Plots located closer to the volcano and more heavily impacted by the eruption were significantly associated with higher seedling abundance (> 50 per plot). Furthermore, plots that had experienced prior burning in addition to volcanic impact showed lower seedling densities compared to plots impacted solely by the volcano. This suggests that fire history negatively influenced first-year seedling establishment following the eruption. We discuss the role of both wildfires and volcanic eruptions in the evolutionary history of Canary pine and highlight the task of disentangling the legacies of these two disturbances. Serotiny, traditionally considered to be a fire-specific adaptation, appears to also function after and increase the resilience of Canary pine to volcanic eruptions at the stand-level. Lastly, we raise the question of whether recurrent disturbances exceeding natural system dynamics could endanger the future demography of Canary pine by limiting infrequent but necessary forest regeneration events.