ArachnoMap es una herramienta para mapear el catálogo de las arañas de la península ibérica y Baleares. Representa sobre un mapa, con posibilidad de filtrar por dimensión geográfica o taxonómica, un total de 1535 especies distintas en 5408 lugares. Reúne y hace fácilmente accesibles las citas conocidas desde la creación del Catálogo de las arañas ibéricas en el año 2000 (que recoge citas desde 1767) hasta el 2021.

CavCollMap es una herramienta para mapear el catálogo de los colémbolos del ambiente subterráneo encontrados en el área Iberobalear y las islas macaronésicas septentrionales. Representa sobre un mapa, con posibilidad de filtrar por dimensión geográfica o taxonómica, un total de 329 especies distintas en 832 lugares (cuevas o MSS). Reúne y hace fácilmente accesibles las citas publicadas desde 1928 hasta 2021.

There is a paucity of adequate mouse models and cell lines available to study lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). We have generated and characterized two models of phenotypically different transplantable LUSC cell lines, i.e. UN-SCC679 and UN-SCC680, derived from A/J mice that had been chemically induced with N-nitroso-tris-chloroethylurea (NTCU). Furthermore, we genetically characterized and compared both LUSC cell lines by performing whole-exome and RNA sequencing. These experiments revealed similar genetic and transcriptomic patterns that may correspond to the classic LUSC human subtype. In addition, we compared the immune landscape generated by both tumor cells lines in vivo and assessed their response to immune checkpoint inhibition. The differences between the two cell lines are a good model for the remarkable heterogeneity of human squamous cell carcinoma. Study of the metastatic potential of these models revealed that both cell lines represent the organotropism of LUSC in humans, i.e. affinity to the brain, bones, liver and adrenal glands. In summary, we have generated valuable cell line tools for LUSC research, which recapitulates the complexity of the human disease.

A new spider species belonging to the genus Agroeca Westring, 1861 is described. Agroeca istia sp. n. has been collected in southern Navarra, Spain. The description is based on 21 individuals of both sexes, present throughout the year on the ground of pine forests and surrounding low vegetation of the Natural Reserve Vedado de Eguaras.

BACKGROUND: Muscle wasting negatively impacts the progress of chronic diseases such as lung cancer (LC) and emphysema, which are in turn interrelated. OBJECTIVES: We hypothesized that muscle atrophy and body weight loss may develop in an experimental mouse model of lung carcinogenesis, that the profile of alterations in muscle fiber phenotype (fiber type composition and morphometry, muscle structural alterations, and nuclear apoptosis), and in muscle metabolism are similar in both respiratory and limb muscles of the tumor-bearing mice, and that the presence of underlying emphysema may influence those events. METHODS: Diaphragm and gastrocnemius muscles of mice with urethane-induced lung cancer (LC-U) with and without elastase-induced emphysema (E-U) and non-exposed controls (N = 8/group) were studied: fiber type composition, morphometry, muscle abnormalities, apoptotic nuclei (immunohistochemistry), and proteolytic and autophagy markers (immunoblotting) at 20- and 35-week exposure times. In the latter cohort, structural contractile proteins, creatine kinase (CK), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) expression, oxidative stress, and inflammation were also measured. Body and muscle weights were quantified (baseline, during follow-up, and sacrifice). RESULTS: Compared to controls, in U and E-U mice, whole body, diaphragm and gastrocnemius weights were reduced. Additionally, both in diaphragm and gastrocnemius, muscle fiber cross-sectional areas were smaller, structural abnormalities, autophagy and apoptotic nuclei were increased, while levels of actin, myosin, CK, PPARs, and antioxidants were decreased, and muscle proteolytic markers did not vary among groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this model of lung carcinogenesis with and without emphysema, reduced body weight gain and muscle atrophy were observed in respiratory and limb muscles of mice after 20- and 35-week exposure times most likely through increased nuclear apoptosis and autophagy. Underlying emphysema induced a larger reduction in the size of slow- and fast-twitch fibers in the diaphragm of U and E-U mice probably as a result of the greater inspiratory burden imposed onto this muscle.

We present and evaluate an automatic and quantitative method for the complex task of characterizing individual nodule volumetric progression in a longitudinal mouse model of lung cancer. Fourteen A/J mice received an intraperitoneal injection of urethane. Respiratory-gated micro-CT images of the lungs were acquired at 8, 22, and 37 weeks after injection. A radiologist identified a total of 196, 585 and 636 nodules, respectively. The three micro-CT image volumes from every animal were then registered and the nodules automatically matched with an average accuracy of 99.5%. All nodules detected at week 8 were tracked all the way to week 37, and volumetrically segmented to measure their growth and doubling rates. 92.5% of all nodules were correctly segmented, ranging from the earliest stage to advanced stage, where nodule segmentation becomes more challenging due to complex anatomy and nodule overlap. Volume segmentation was validated using a foam lung phantom with embedded polyethylene microspheres. We also correlated growth rates with nodule phenotypes based on histology, to conclude that the growth rate of malignant tumors is significantly higher than that of benign lesions. In conclusion, we present a turnkey solution that combines longitudinal imaging with nodule matching and volumetric nodule segmentation resulting in a powerful tool for preclinical research.

The association between inflammation and lung tumor development has been clearly demonstrated. However, little is known concerning the molecular events preceding the development of lung cancer. In this study, we characterize a chemically induced lung cancer mouse model in which lung cancer developed in the presence of silicotic chronic inflammation. Silica-induced lung inflammation increased the incidence and multiplicity of lung cancer in mice treated with N-nitrosodimethylamine, a carcinogen found in tobacco smoke. Histologic and molecular analysis revealed that concomitant chronic inflammation contributed to lung tumorigenesis through induction of preneoplastic changes in lung epithelial cells. In addition, silica-mediated inflammation generated an immunosuppressive microenvironment in which we observed increased expression of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), transforming growth factor-beta 1, monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG3), and forkhead box P3 (FOXP3), as well as the presence of regulatory T cells. Finally, the K-RAS mutational profile of the tumors changed from Q61R to G12D mutations in the inflammatory milieu. In summary, we describe some of the early molecular changes associated to lung carcinogenesis in a chronic inflammatory microenvironment and provide novel information concerning the mechanisms underlying the formation and the fate of preneoplastic lesions in the silicotic lung.

Objectives To evaluate the feasibility of using automatic quantitative analysis of breath hold gated micro-CT images to detect and monitor disease in a mouse model of chronic pulmonary inflammation, and to compare image-based measurements with pulmonary function tests and histomorphometry. Material and methods Forty-nine A/J mice were used, divided into control and inflammation groups. Chronic inflammation was induced by silica aspiration. Fourteen animals were imaged at baseline, and 4, 14, and 34 weeks after silica aspiration, using micro-CT synchronized with ventilator-induced breath holds. Lung input impedance was measured as well using forced oscillation techniques. Five additional animals from each group were killed after micro-CT for comparison with histomorphometry. Results At all time points, micro-CT measurements show statistically significant differences between the two groups, while first differences in functional test parameters appear at 14 weeks. Micro-CT measurements correlate well with histomorphometry and discriminate diseased and healthy groups better than functional tests. Conclusion Longitudinal studies using breath hold gated micro-CT are feasible on the silica-induced model of chronic pulmonary inflammation, and automatic measurements from micro-CT images correlate well with histomorphometry, being more sensitive than functional tests to detect lung damage in this model.