Anabel Torrente

Genetic study of melatonin synthesis in sweet pepper fruits – Jorge Taboada de la Rosa

15 May, 2023 por Anabel Torrente Leave a Comment

Melatonin and serotonin are molecules that have signaling functions in both animals and plants. In this study, the fruits of the California-type sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L) are used as an experimental model, for which information is available at a genomic and transcriptomic level, to identify the genes involved in melatonin biosynthesis and explore how they are modulated during ripening. To do this, bioinformatic analyses will be used to search for genes with the same function in other plant species. The information obtained will make it possible to establish the genetic bases of how melatonin performs its signaling and antioxidant functions in what is one of the most widely consumed horticultural fruits worldwide. It is also therefore of great economic importance, particularly in southeast Spain where it is widely cultivated.

Keywords: melatonin, pepper, bioinformatic, genes, antioxidants

Directed by: Francisco Javier Corpas Aguirre

Study of the effects of probiotics in breast cancer – Juan Carlos Villegas Ruíz

15 May, 2023 por Anabel Torrente Leave a Comment

Probiotics are living microorganisms found in certain foods or supplements that can provide health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts. The term “microbiota” refers to the collection of microbes, including beneficial bacteria, that naturally inhabit the human body and help keep us healthy.

The many other benefits of probiotics include maintaining proper immune system function. Because of this, they have been proposed in the treatment of certain diseases, including breast cancer.

Research on the effects of probiotics on breast cancer is still in its early stages, however, some preliminary studies suggest that certain strains of probiotics could have beneficial effects.

One way to approach these studies is through cell lines. Cell lines are cells, usually cancerous, grown in a laboratory.

The aim of this Master’s thesis is to analyse the possible effects on cancer of a probiotic strain using a breast cancer cell line. For this purpose, we add the probiotic supernatant to the cells in different concentrations and observe the effects it produces.

Keywords: Probiotics, breast cancer, microbiota, cell line, cell culture.

Directed by: Ana I. Álvarez Mercado

Could probiotics be used for cervical cancer prevention and treatment? – Mariam Khemlani El Mghari

15 May, 2023 por Anabel Torrente Leave a Comment

Cervical cancer is one of the most common types of cancer affecting women worldwide. The development of this cancer is closely related to an alteration in the balance of the microorganisms that inhabit the vagina, known as the vaginal microbiota. This alteration makes the vagina vulnerable to infections and sexually transmitted diseases such as human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, which is also a major risk factor for developing cervical cancer.

One possible therapeutic strategy would be to use probiotics to restore the balance of vaginal microbiota. Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when consumed, confer health benefits and have been shown to play an important role in regulating the immune system. Thus, this Master’s thesis aims to evaluate the effect of the metabolic products generated by the probiotic Bifidobacterium breve in a cervical cancer cell model in the presence of proinflammatory stimuli. The objective is to determine its potential as an effective, safe therapeutic strategy for cervical cancer prevention and treatment.

Keywords: Cervical cancer, vaginal microbiota, probiotics, human papillomavirus

Directed by: Ana I. Álvarez Mercado

The fight against resistant microorganisms – Mercy Elizabeth Quizhpe Romero

15 May, 2023 por Anabel Torrente Leave a Comment

Antimicrobials are substances that inhibit the growth of certain pathogenic microorganisms and can therefore be used in the treatment of the diseases they cause. However, some microorganisms have developed resistance mechanisms to these substances.

This poses a major threat to global health as resistance makes the antimicrobials less effective, making it more difficult to treat several infections, prolonging hospital stays and increasing mortality. This problem is becoming more serious as antimicrobial resistance is increasing worldwide to dangerous levels.

Several strategies are currently being employed in the fight against resistant microorganisms. One involves the use of new natural products produced by certain microorganisms as a source of antimicrobials. It consists of exploring new environments different from those traditionally explored. The aim is to isolate microorganisms that produce new molecules that have activity against resistant pathogens. These molecules could then be considered as candidates for drugs to treat these infections. With this in mind, this Master’s Thesis aims to analyse the activity of substances produced by previously isolated strains of a genus of actinomycetes (a type of bacteria), in order to evaluate their antimicrobial activity.

Keywords: resistant microorganisms, antimicrobial, natural products, drugs, actinomycetes.

Directed by: Ignacio González Martínez/Daniel Oves Costales

A step towards the medicine of the future: personalized treatments based on your genetic information – Michelle Rojas Romero

15 May, 2023 por Anabel Torrente 2 Comments

By studying existing variations in the genome between individuals and populations (genotyping), personalized medicine allows us to prescribe, adjust and/or withdraw a specific drug for a disease that a

particular patient is suffering. This should cause the patient to respond appropriately and improve their quality of life. In recent decades, the number of patients suffering from autoimmune diseases has increased. These are a varied group of diseases that share a common characteristic, namely that they cause the patient’s immune system to produce antibodies, which act erroneously against their cells and tissues.

One of the main drugs used to treat this type of disease is azathioprine (an immunosuppressive drug). Its metabolism involves an enzyme known as thiopurine methyl transferase (TPMT). The gene encoding this enzyme has been shown to be associated with patient response to azathioprine.

Different pharmacogenetic guides make different recommendations depending on the patient’s genetic characteristics. These include, for example, increasing or decreasing the dose depending on the variations that may appear in the gene encoding TPMT. Conducting a genetic study prior to taking azathioprine can therefore help adjust the dose according to the TPMT activity of each patient, thus reducing the occurrence of adverse reactions.

The aim of this study is to assess the degree of implementation of this genetic test in routine clinical practice in our population, and to study the differences in this gene between our population and other reference populations.

Keywords: pharmacogenetics, azathioprine, systemic diseases

Directed by: Emilio Fernández Varón