Lauradelvalle's Blog

Third Article, Second Semester 10-11

lauradelvalle — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:32:28 +0000

My participation in Biominds allows me to explore the research area and make me to consider a P.h.D. as one of my future goals; since it gives me the opportunity to learn, enrich my knowledge in sciences and opened my eyes to that world that is not limited to a laboratory, it comprise much more than that.

Second Article, Second Semester 10-11

lauradelvalle — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 14:21:52 +0000

Last semester I was looking for the presence of clinical integrons on tropical coastal environments and with the project that I will present at PRISM (Impacted mangrove habitats as stable reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes); these projects were finished, so the expectative that we have for both were achieved. Since the date of the presentation is approaching, for the first days of this semester I was focused on the last of the mentioned projects, while I started working with another graduate student on their project that is looking for integron- encoded antibiotic resistance among fecal indicator bacteria. Because I recently started working on that project I continued with her goals; so I am using PCR methods to probe that integron-encoded antibiotic resistance and evaluating the results obtained from that. Really, until now I don’t had to affront serious obstacles on that semester, but I think that when those obstacles come, we have to maintain the communication with your team, explain the problem, be organized and trace a plan to overcome it, looking for the best solution both for the project and the team.

First Article Second Semester 10-11

lauradelvalle — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 20:12:40 +0000

This is the abstract for the oral presentation that we will have soon.

Impacted mangrove habitats as stable reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes.

Laura M. Del Valle, Odalys S. Alvarez, and Carlos Rodriguez. Biology Department, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez.

Mangrove ecosystem serves as a nursery environment for marine species that are important for commercial and recreational fishing industries. In the last decade the spread of antibiotic resistance (ABR) outside the clinical scene has been linked to the degradation of aquatic environments due to wastewater contamination, resulting in a raised concern about the dissemination of resistant strains. To evaluate the impact of this problem in Puerto Rico we analyzed the potential of mangrove habitats to serve as reservoirs of ABR genes. We used a PCR-based technique to detect antibiotic resistance mechanism encoded by a genetic system known as integrons, which is laterally transmissible among pathogens and harmless bacteria. Samples from the water column, sediments and rhizosphere from impacted (La Parguera, Lajas) and relatively undisturbed (Ensenada Dakity, Culebra) mangrove environments were analyzed. Results from habitats with minimal impact suggest that natural factors may influence the prevalence of integron-encoded resistance genes, as these were undetected during the dry season but were found during the rainy season. Nevertheless, mangrove habitats may serve as transient reservoirs of ABR genes when the impact is moderate, as ABR genes were detected only in samples from sediments and rhizosphere material at this site. In contrast, sampling of the disturbed site indicates that a sustained impact of wastewater pollution may turn that ecosystem into a stable reservoir of resistance determinants. Results indicate that wastewater pollution of mangrove ecosystem may constitute a risk to human health due to the introduction of bacterial populations harboring potentially transmissible antibiotic resistance genes.

Third Article: First Semester 10-11

lauradelvalle — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 19:24:31 +0000

For this semester we continue looking for the detection of clinical integrons on tropical coastal environments. Primarily we were using PCR methods for the detection of those clinical intregons. The primers that we were using were specific to class 1, class 2, and class 3 integrases. One of the places that we were working was pipeline outflow near Sardinera beach (Isabela), and sea water receiving the outflow. Water and sand samples collected at the Guanajibo river estuary were also analyzed. We used for the tests an equal amount of total community DNA (11 ng) for each one. Results revealed different distribution and prevalence trends among integrases from clinical integrons. Class 2 integrases were more frequently detected followed by class 1 elements while class 3 integrases appeared to be below the detection limit in the tested samples. Those preliminary results indicate the presence of clinical integrons in impacted estuarine environments and discharges from a coastal pipeline outfall. These findings suggest that contaminated coastal environments are stable reservoirs of integrons that could be potentially loaded with antibiotic resistance genes.

Second Article: First Semester 10-11

lauradelvalle — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 13:55:15 +0000

For this Bio-Blog post I have to visit two blogs of my mates. My experience visiting the blogs was a interesting one, because is one form that we could be aware of what our fellows are doing on their respective research areas. Also it gives to us the opportunity to meet and interact with them.

Jesenia Flecha

This investigation is focused on Eutrophic Estuary System, Mandry Channel, in Humacao. For the realization of that project she divided that estuary in three stratas where she took water samples according to the respective depths (0.15, 1.21 and 2.15 m). Her hypothesis is that according to the differences in oxygen, light and inorganic material present in the estuary, the diversity of microorganism could be varied and a great one. The identification of those microorganisms is done by the sequence of the 16S rRNA. Actually she is on the screening of the clones. She desires to implement techniques as Orientation PCR and Real Time PCR.

Carlos Castrodad

His research is related with protein-protein interaction motifs. His goal is to identify potential interactions in the HIV proteins by the use of bioinformatics tools. The identification of those proteins is in accordance to the development of an HIV-antiviral drug. For this semester his goals are: generate pharmacophore models, perform drug databases in silico screening, making use of optimal targets previously identified, identify lead compounds, and to analyze binding energies/affinities of the interaction with the optimal target. For the generation of pharmacophore models he will first identifying them. The identification of lead compounds is the most important for him on this moment.

First Article: First Semester 10-11

lauradelvalle — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 23:45:06 +0000

During this summer I did not have a research experience. But I am staring this semester with enthusiasm to acquire knowledge and new experiences on research. For the end of this semester I expect to perfection some techniques already known like Colony PCR, etc. Also, I desire and expect to learn others as make “genotecas”. Moreover, for the end of the semester I should know the procedure and acquire the necessary skills to make plasmid extraction. Since I will work with the same project that I have been working the past semester, it is based essentially in the same objective; find the presence of clinical integrons on tropical coastal environments as in food samples, specifically on yogourts.

Third Article: Second Semester 09-10

lauradelvalle — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 18:31:09 +0000

While I was reading about the research of my mates, I was so fascinated with the diversity of science and the investigations, also with the enthusiasm of them. In general, reading their posts was an excellent experience, because we could exchange some opinions and it is a form to expose to others our research and goals. Also, we could see the variety of forms in which we could contribute to science.

Albeit I share the research laboratory with Jennifer Hernández, I didn’t have the opportunity to read or know specifically about his investigation before. But through the visit to her blog I notice that basically we are working more or less in the same, with integrons. She is looking for the presence of integrons that confers antibiotic resistance. She is using techniques as DNA extraction, PCR, DNA sequence, cloning, transformation and ligation.

On the other hand, Melvin Álvarez is looking for obtain organic compounds from a plant named Momordica charantia, commonly named on Spanish as “cundeamor”. This plant is known to have antioxidant, antitumor, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory effects. On that effects rest on the importance of that project. He is using techniques as chromatography, with a solvent and an extraction of soxhlet from the leaf.

Sarai Quiles is looking for the production of chlorophyll a, of benthic algae. This is a parameter to determine the level of contamination of a river or stream. This alga lives attached to the bottom or in the side of a river or lake. The more presence of algae is indicative of a high level of contamination.

This semester was a challenging one, in which I could learn and improve some techniques, as PCR, electrophoresis, DNA extraction, etc. Moreover I could learn more about integrons, their mechanisms, and their importance for us. Also, I was involved in the preparation of a poster and could see how is the experience of presenting your results; that was a new, exciting, and enrichment experience for me. As all in life, some barriers were presented, as the need of more equipment, lack of time, and others. But those barriers are the vehicles to learn more and give to us the skills needed to improve our way of do things. With communication, patience, dedication, and organization we could overcome those obstacles that are presented during the research experience. For the next semester I hope to sequence some of the environmental results obtained this semester, and also looking for the presence of integrons on yogurts, as I had been started the previous semester.

Second Article: Second Semester 09-10

lauradelvalle — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:42:14 +0000

Definitely the technique that I used and I will use the most is the PCR technique. Since my project is based on molecular techniques, the PCR represents the way that I could obtain my results and could detect the presence of integrons in food samples as in environmental samples. Until this moment I have an intermediate progress. Some difficulties, like the availability of the equipment are presented, but with communication and with a good schedule I overcome it.

First Article: Second Semester 09-10

lauradelvalle — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:40:05 +0000

For this semester I am very enthusiastic to continue with my project and with the learning process that research implies. One of my objectives is to learn other techniques, like cloning and extraction of DNA, etc. Also I am looking for improve the previously used techniques and confirm the results obtained. During the semester, according to the results of the research I am going to set another goals and objectives. Until this moment one of those objectives is to investigate the prevalence of clinical integrons in food-related reservoirs as well as in enviromental settings impacted by human influence. This two stages are being explored to elucidate potential risks associated with the dispersal of antibiotic resistance outside the clinical enviroment. A refined PCR-protocol for the detection of class 1 integrons in enviromental samples has been optimized. This method allows the amplification of a larger region of the int1 loci, a signatured sequence for the most prevalent clinical integron. Those expectancies will give to the project more consistency and will give me the opportunity to fortify learned skills like PCR, electrophoresis, and others.

Third Article

lauradelvalle — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:24:47 +0000

The experience of visit three blogs of students as me that are looking for new techinques and trying for contibute to our world was an excellent one. It gives me the opportunity to know a little more of other techniques as are dot blot hybridization, the use of rotary evaporators, chromatography tecniques, sonoluminescence and ultrasound equipments,etc. The most interesting and important of this experience is that we can know about other people that are looking for the solutions of certain problems on differrent ways like: developing of biosensors to detect Salmonella, identification of chemical compounds that may cause cytotoxic activity, and the production of biodiesel from microalgae. All the blogs that I visited have one thing on common; the use and the improvement of tecniques above mentioned to achieve their respective goals relationed to health and enviroment.

For this semester, primarly I learned about the tecniques used on the laboratory. I had to affront some obstacles like the consecutive days we were out of the university, but I outcome it with coordination and organization of the working hours. Until yet we are working with some ontained results, and on its depend the goals for the next semester. Albeit that, we are focused to improve some techniques and apply another ones, to be sure about the obtained results and could work on different ways with them.