Overweight and obesity promote diabetes and heart disease onset. Triglycerides are key biomarkers for cardiovascular disease, strokes, and other health issues. Scientists have devised methods and instruments for the detection of these molecules in liquid samples. In this study, an enzymatic biosensor was developed using an Arduino-based microfluidic platform, wherein a lipolytic enzyme was immobilized on an ethylene-vinyl acetate polymer through physical adsorption. This low-cost optical biosensor employed a spectrophotometric transducer and was assessed in liquid samples to indirectly detect triglycerides and fatty acids using p-nitrophenol as an indicator. The average triglyceride level detected in the conducted experiments was 47.727 mg/dL. The biosensor exhibited a percentage of recovery of 81.12% and a variation coefficient of 0.791%. Furthermore, the biosensor demonstrated the ability to detect triglyceride levels without the need for sample dilution, ranging from 7.6741 mg/dL to 58.835 mg/dL. This study successfully developed an efficient and affordable enzymatic biosensor prototype for triglyceride and fatty acid detection. The lipolytic enzyme immobilization on the polymer substrate provided a stable and reproducible detection system, rendering this biosensor an exciting option for the detection of these molecules.

El colágeno es una proteína abundante en los organismos vertebrados. Forma parte de tejidos conectivos como la piel, las articulaciones, los ligamentos y los huesos. Se puede hidrolizar enzimáticamente con la finalidad de mejorar sus propiedades tecnofuncionales (solubilidad, emulsificación, espumantes, entre otras). Durante la generación de colágeno hidrolizado se exponen secuencias peptídicas que presenten propiedades bioactivas, como antioxidantes, antihipertensivas y antidiabéticas. El objetivo de este trabajo fue optimizar el grado de hidrólisis del colágeno bovino mediante proteasas comerciales y la evaluación de las propiedades tecnofuncionales y antioxidantes, de los productos resultantes. La optimización del grado de hidrólisis se realizó usando la metodología de superficie de respuesta, mediante un diseño central compuesto. El análisis proximal de la materia prima mostró un alto contenido de proteína (88 %). El proceso de optimización indicó un grado de hidrólisis extensivo (76.38 %, P ≤0.05) para la enzima PAL®, con una relación E/S de 1.43 UN/g en un tiempo de 23.75 h. Las propiedades tecnofuncionales se asociaron de manera positiva (P ≤ 0.05) con el grado de hidrólisis: 95.02 % con la solubilidad (pH 9), 48 % y 34 % con la capacidad y la estabilidad de emulsificación, respectivamente. El espumado disminuyó en función del incremento del grado de hidrólisis con la enzima HT proteolitic®, alcanzando una reducción del 47 % de la estabilidad y 26 % en la capacidad. La capacidad antioxidante del colágeno hidrolizado (24 h) incrementó de manera significativa (P ≤ 0.05), mostrando un valor de 62.38 % (DPPH) y 0.39 UA700 nm (poder reductor) con la enzima PAL® y de 80.55 % (ABTS) para la enzima HT proteolitic®. La optimización de la hidrólisis enzimática del colágeno mejoró sus propiedades tecnofuncionales (solubilidad y emulsificación) y antioxidantes.

Background: Mexico is one of the main producers, exporters and consumers of corn in the world. For maximum yield of the product, nitrogen fertilizers are supplied as the main source of nutrients. However, their excessive use is creating a contamination problem. Objective: The main objective was to isolate and select nitrogen-fixing bacteria from the rhizosphere and caulosphere of corn plants. Methodology: Corn plants were selected during three different periods: vegetative growth, flowering and fertilization, grain filling and maturity. Root and stem samples were obtained from each of the plants, they were superficially disinfected, serial dilutions were made and they were planted in nutrient agar medium for isolation. The nitrogen-fixing capacity was evaluated qualitatively on a nitrogen-free medium and quantitatively through the indirect ammonium ion titration method. Results: 70 bacterial isolates were obtained, of which 14 presented positive nitrogen-fixing activity in vitro. Only isolates RB14, RC12, CB1 and CC3 presented quantifiable ammonium ion concentrations, with values of 1.081 mg/L, 0.546 mg/L, 0.54 mg/L and 0.163 mg/L of released ammonium, respectively. According to the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics observed, the microorganisms that presented nitrogen fixing capacity showed a morphological similarity to the genera Bacillus sp, Pseudomonas sp and Azotobacter sp. Conclusions: These isolates can be used as an alternative to the use of chemical fertilizers since they showed a high nitrogen fixation potential in vitro.

The trematode Clinostomum marginatum, secretes excretory-secretory products (ESPs) which have the potential to increase the viability and antioxidant activity of probiotic strains. The aim of this study was to identify the ESP profile of C. marginatum and to evaluate its anti-inflammatory activity in RAW 264.7 macrophages, as well as its effect on the viability and antioxidant activity of a consortium of bacteria comprising Lactobacillus and/or Bifidobacterium. C. marginatum was maintained in RPMI-1640 medium for ESP collection. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells treated with 800 µg/mL of ESPs, measuring cell viability, nitric oxide production, and the relative expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, INF-γ) and the COX-2 gene by qPCR. The influence of ESPs (800–1600 µg/mL) on probiotic viability and antioxidant activity was determined using MTT, DPPH, hydroxyl, and superoxide radical scavenging assays. C. marginatum showed 74% survival in vitro, and SDS-PAGE analysis revealed three major protein bands in the ESPs (47, 54, and 58 kDa). ESP treatment significantly reduced nitric oxide and the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory markers in LPS-activated macrophages. ESPs supplemented at 1200 µg/mL optimized the growth kinetics of Lactobacillus (specific growth rate μ_L = 1.12 h⁻¹, doubling time t_d = 0.62 h) and Bifidobacterium (μ_B = 1.09 h⁻¹, t_d = 0.63 h) compared to control conditions. In conclusion, ESPs from C. marginatum exhibited significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects while enhancing bacterial viability, which positions them as promising candidates for biotherapeutics agents in the management of inflammatory control and gut microbiota modulation.

Diálogos Multidisciplinarios Emergentes sobre Argumentación, Paz y Medioambiente reúne un conjunto de reflexiones que examinan, desde el prisma de diversas disciplinas, la centralidad de la argumentación en la configuración de la vida pública contemporánea. A partir de sus fundamentos filosóficos hasta sus expresiones en el ámbito jurídico, ético, político y ambiental, la obra propone una lectura integral de problemas decisivos para nuestro tiempo. Los capítulos que la integran abordan temas como la enseñanza e investigación de la argumentación, la teoría jurídica, los derechos de las personas no humanas, la relación entre derechos humanos y paz, la incidencia del espacio urbano en la conducta social, la filosofía ambiental, la articulación entre ética y derecho ambiental, y la bioética aplicada a la contaminación hídrica. Coordinado por Diana Lizbeth Ruiz Rincón y José Juan Pérez Ramos, este segundo volumen de la colección Voces para la Filosofía constituye una invitación a comprender que la deliberación rigurosa sigue siendo una herramienta indispensable para pensar en la justicia, fortalecer la convivencia y asumir, con responsabilidad, nuestro lugar en el mundo.

Background: Water pollution has regained critical relevance in recent years due to increasing human, industrial, and agricultural activities, which have significantly increased environmental pollution rates. In particular, agriculture is one of the sectors that most negatively impacts water bodies, mainly due to the excessive use of pesticides. These chemical compounds, especially organophosphates such as malathion, are widely used on avocado crops and represent a severe risk to the ecosystem's health. Objective: This study aimed to isolate microorganisms capable of producing enzymes to degrade organophosphorus contaminants. Methodology: Different concentrations of malathion were used to isolate microorganisms capable of growing in the presence of organophosphorus compounds. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed to evaluate their degradation capacity by determining the phosphatase activity produced by the enzymes from the isolated microorganisms. Result: Seven fungal strains that could proliferate in organophosphate-contaminated media were isolated. The observed phosphatase activities ranged from 99.2 U/L to 1160.5 U/L, suggesting a wide range of potential for degradation of these compounds. Microculture techniques identified the strains, revealing that most shared morphological characteristics with species of the genus Aspergillus. Conclusions: This finding highlights the potential of these phosphatase-producing fungi as bioremediation agents, offering an ecological solution for the degradation of organophosphorus compounds in contaminated water bodies.