A5055065348- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Mine drainage and remediation techniques
- Metal Extraction and Bioleaching
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis
- Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Heavy metals in environment
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Mediterranean and Iberian flora and fauna
- Lichen and fungal ecology
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Astro and Planetary Science
- Immune Response and Inflammation
- Microbial Fuel Cells and Bioremediation
- Reproductive tract infections research
- Space Exploration and Technology
- Archaeological and Geological Studies
- Building materials and conservation
- Plant Diversity and Evolution
- Plant Micronutrient Interactions and Effects
- Plant Stress Responses and Tolerance
- Arsenic contamination and mitigation
- Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies
- Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping
Centro de Astrobiología
2015-2024
Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa
2020-2024
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
2013-2024
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
2007-2022
Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial
2005-2022
Hospital Universitario Puerto Real
2020
Hospital Universitario La Paz
2018-2020
Astrobiology Center
2017
Gobierno del Principado de Asturias
2015
Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología
2013
ABSTRACT The Tinto River is an extreme environment located at the core of Iberian Pyritic Belt (IPB). It unusual ecosystem due to its size (100 km long), constant acidic pH (mean pH, 2.3), and high concentration heavy metals, iron, sulfate in waters, characteristics that make Basin comparable mine drainage (AMD) systems. In this paper we present extensive survey sediment microbiota using two culture-independent approaches: denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis cloning 16S rRNA genes....
Cyanobacteria are ecologically versatile microorganisms inhabiting most environments, ranging from marine systems to arid deserts. Although they possess several pathways for light-independent energy generation, until now their ecological range appeared be restricted environments with at least occasional exposure sunlight. Here we present molecular, microscopic, and metagenomic evidence that cyanobacteria predominate in deep subsurface rock samples the Iberian Pyrite Belt Mars analog...
ABSTRACT The correlation between water physicochemical parameters and eukaryotic benthic composition was examined in Río Tinto. Principal component analysis showed a high inverse relationship pH most of the heavy metals analyzed as well Dunaliella sp., while Chlamydomonas sp. abundance positively related. Zn, Cu, Ni clustered together strong with diversity coefficient species analyzed. These communities seem to be more influenced by presence than pH.
Discovery of Fe-carbonate precipitation in Rio Tinto, a shallow river with very acidic waters, situated Huelva, South-western Spain, adds new dimension to our understanding carbonate formation. Sediment samples from this low-pH system indicate that carbonates are formed physico-chemical conditions ranging acid neutral pH. Evidence for microbial mediation is observed secondary electron images (Fig. 1), which reveal rod-shaped bacteria embedded the surface siderite nanocrystals. The formation...
The Dallol volcano and its associated hydrothermal field are located in a remote area of the northern Danakil Depression Ethiopia, region only recently appraised after decades inaccessibility due to severe political instability absence infrastructure. is notable for hosting environments at very edge natural physical-chemical extremities. It surrounded by wide, hyperarid salt plain one hottest (average annual temperatureDallol: 36–38°C) most acidic systems (pHDallol ≈0) on Earth. Spectacular...
The existence of possible hematitic strata on the surface Mars demands a search for terrestrial analogues formed in unusual environments. This will help us to recognize and interpret environmental and, perhaps, biological signatures preserved Mars' hematites. Such an analogue would allow establish valid reference systems based geomicrobial biogeochemical signatures. Two different aspects place Tinto River inside boundaries natural extreme system: its high level diversity presence fluvial...
Heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) from Chlamydia pneumoniae was described to trigger in vitro inflammatory and cytokine responses including TNF IL-12p40. Although it can be found atherosclerotic plaques of patients, the stimulatory potential chlamydial other HSP60 vivo is unclear. We now report that fails induce expression vivo, significant serum levels IL-12p40 are only upon intraperitoneal injection high doses or after intravenous application. Upon purification with polymyxin B-agarose...
A search for evidence of cryptic life in the subsurface region a fractured Paleozoic volcanosedimentary deposit near source waters Río Tinto River (Iberian pyrite belt, southwest Spain) was carried out by Mars Astrobiology Research and Technology Experiment (MARTE) project investigators 2003 2004. This conventional deep-drilling experiment is referred to as MARTE ground truth drilling project. Boreholes were drilled at three sites, samples from extracted cores analyzed with light microscopy,...
ABSTRACT Several anaerobic metal-reducing bacteria have been shown to be able donate electrons directly an electrode. This property is of great interest for microbial fuel cell development. To date, design requires avoiding O 2 diffusion from the cathodic compartment sensitive anodic compartment. Here, we show that Acidiphilium sp. strain 3.2 Sup 5 cells were isolated extreme acidic environment are colonize graphite felt electrodes. These bacterial electrodes produce high-density...
Río Tinto (Huelva, southwestern Spain) is an extreme environment with a remarkably constant acidic pH and high concentration of heavy metals, conditions generated by the metabolic activity chemolithotrophic microorganisms thriving in rich complex sulfides Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB). Fungal strains isolated from basin were characterized morphologically phylogenetically. The strain identified as Purpureocillium lilacinum specifically induced formation yellow-ocher precipitate,...
Microbial activity is a major contributor to the biogeochemical cycles that make up life support system of planet Earth. A 613 m deep geomicrobiological perforation and systematic multi-analytical characterization revealed an unexpected diversity associated with rock matrix microbiome operates in subsurface Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB). Members 1 class 16 genera were deemed most representative microorganisms IPB selected for deeper analysis. The use fluorescence situ hybridization allowed not...
• The analysis of metal distribution in Imperata cylindrica, a perennial grass isolated from the banks Tinto River (Iberian Pyritic Belt), an extreme acidic environment with high content metals, has shown remarkable accumulation iron. This property been used to study iron speciation and its among different tissues structures plant. Mössbauer (MS) X-ray diffraction (XRD) were determine species, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) locate biominerals plant tissue structures, energy-dispersive...
Salar de Uyuni (SdU), with a geological history that reflects 50 000 years of climate change, is the largest hypersaline salt flat on Earth and estimated to be biggest lithium reservoir in world. Its salinity reaches saturation levels for NaCl, kosmotropic salt, high concentrations MgCL2 LiCl, both salts considered important chaotrophic stressors. In addition, extreme temperatures, anoxic conditions, UV irradiance, albedo extremely low phosphorous, make SdU unique natural environment which...
Abstract The Dallol geothermal area in the northern part of Danakil Depression (up to 124–155 meter below sea level) is deemed one most extreme environments on Earth. notable for being Afar Depression, an incipient seafloor-spreading center located at triple junction, between Nubian, Somali and Arabian plates, hosting very edge natural physical-chemical extremities. dominated by Assale salt plain (an accumulation marine evaporite deposits) hosts volcano. Here, interaction evaporitic deposit...
Abstract Chlamydia pneumoniae, an obligate intracellular bacterium, causes pneumonia in humans and mice. In this study, we show that GR1+/CD45+ polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) surprisingly increase the bacterial load of C. pneumoniae vivo. Upon intranasal infection wild-type mice, lung weight is increased; cytokines TNF, IL-12p40, IFN-γ, as well chemokines keratinocyte-derived chemokine, MCP-1, MIP-2 are secreted; PMN recruited into lungs 3 days postinfection. contrast, infected...
Abstract The relevance of TLR2 and TLR4 for recognizing Chlamydia pneumoniae in vivo during pulmonary infection to survive the was explored. We found that early immune responses triggered by C. partially depended on TLR2, but not TLR4. chemokines MIP‐2 MIP‐1α were induced, while IL‐12p40 levels higher –/– mice compared wild‐type mice. Secretion TNF, keratinocyte‐derived chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 attenuated mice, IFN‐γ increased as cyto‐ response ×TLR4 d/d similar also...