Proyectos

Tenacibaculosis is an emerging pathogen recently classified as high-risk disease. Since 2020 it is the second pathogen after Piscirickettsia salmonis producing higher mortalities in Atlantic salmon. Diverses species of Tenacibaculosis has been described in Chile, but Tenacibaculum dicentrarchi present the higher prevalence in culture centers. Before 2018, underreporting of Tenacibaculosis was possible due to the external signology is similar with Piscirickettsiosis. P. salmonis is the main pathogen in Chilean salmon farming, causing the principals mortalities because of diseases. In recent years, concerns related to Tenacibaculosis and Piscirickettsiosis coinfection have increased due to detrimental effects on the health status of fish in comparison to the single infection. Our proposal aim to characterize the immune response elicit by T. dicentrarchi in Atlantic salmon and describe how it is related to a coinfection by P. salmonis. First, we propose the description of the single infection of T. dicentrarchi due to the lack of information about the immune response it induces in Atlantic salmon. Then, we propose the characterization of the coinfection between T. dicentrarchi and P. salmonis and the possible weaker of the health status of the fish due to T. dicentrarchi may favors the development of the secondary infection. Therefore, we hypothesize that “Tenacibaculum dicentrarchi chronic infection triggers a type 2 immunity (Th2/M2) IL-4/13/ IL-10+ phenotype in head kidney and spleen of Atlantic salmon, increasing the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, which favor and increase the severity of Piscirickettsia salmonis coinfection”. The general objective of the proposal is to demonstrate that a chronic infection of Tenacibaculum dicentrarchi causes in Atlantic salmon a status of head kidney and spleen immunosuppression presented an IL 4/13/ IL-10+ phenotype and increasing the mortality provoked by Piscirickettsia salmonis coinfection. To demonstrate the hypothesis, three specific objectives are proposed. First specific objective is “Characterize the immunological response of the single infection of T. dicentrarchi and coinfection with T. dicentrarchi and P. salmonis in Atlantic salmon under field conditions during outbreak seasons”. For this specific objective, we designed the Trial 1: Field sampling in open-sea cages during a single infection of T. dicentrarchi in winter and a coinfection with T. dicentrarchi and P. salmonis in spring. The analysis of the immune response will be through gene expression by RT-PCR and proteins by ELISA and western blotting. Then, the second objective propose is “Verify the type 2 immunity (Th2/M2) IL-4/13/ IL-10+ phenotype elicit by a T. dicentrarchi infection in Atlantic salmon under controlled conditions of laboratory”. To accomplish this goal we designed the Trial 2: A single infection challenge with T. dicentrarchi in Atlantic salmon in laboratory conditions in order to better characterize the immune response at a cellular level by flow cytometry and a molecular level by RNA-seq, RT-PCR and protein level. The final specific objective is “Characterize at the immunological level the development and severity of P. salmonis infection in Atlantic salmon infected by T. dicentrarchi under controlled conditions of laboratory”. To achieve this objective we designed the Trial 3: A coinfection with T. dicentrarchi and P. salmonis in Atlantic salmon in laboratory conditions with the respective single infection controls of each pathogen and posterior analysis by molecular and protein level. The expected results are: 1) The characterization of the immune response at functional level of the single infection of T. dicentrarchi and the coinfection of T. dicentrarchi and P. salmonis in Atlantic salmon in open-sea cages; 2) Verification that T. dicentrarchi triggers a type 2 immunity (Th2/M2) with an increase in the secretion of cytokine IL-10 demonstrated through transcript, protein, and cellular analysis in laboratory conditions that will let us a better resolution of the immune response characterization in comparison with the field conditions; 3) Characterization of the development of a more harmful P. salmonis infection due to the weaker health status on Atlantic salmon produced by of T. dicentrarchi, which means a higher bacterial load of P. salmonis and mortality rate in coinfected fish with T. dicentrarchi and P. salmonis. The results obtained in this research will provide animal health information to improve the productive management of salmonids and contribute to the knowledge of the health status of Atlantic salmon in the context of the two main pathogens affecting Chilean aquaculture nowadays.

El proyecto se propone explorar la materialidad de las experiencias formativas en el practicum a través de un estudio empírico-cualitativo basado en el uso de la videografía de orientación fenomenológica. El foco específico en la materialidad considera dos hipótesis: 1) en la FID predomina una visión instrumental de las cosas como herramienta, recurso o medio pedagógico o didáctico que dificulta, cuando no impide, examinar el estatus de la materialidad en la co-constitución de la experiencia práctica docente; 2) la noción tradicional de reflexión en el paradigma del profesional reflexivo se mantiene en un nivel intelectual-cognitivo que suele desatender la dimensión corporal, preverbal y estética de la misma.

Se propone estudiar la miel orgánica monofloral de Quillay (Quillaja saponaria Molina), que es un árbol endémico de Chile central. La miel de Quillay es reconocida por sus características organolépticas y efectos biológicos, comparables a mieles como la miel de manuka. Esta miel junto con el quitosano y la gelatina se utilizarán para elaborar los hidrogeles. La CHH se esterilizará mediante radiación gamma para obtener miel de grado médico. A continuación, se estudiará la caracterización fisicoquímica de la CHH y su efecto in vitro e in vivo. La caracterización se llevará a cabo mediante la determinación de diferentes parámetros fisicoquímicos y por cromatografía líquida de ultra alto rendimiento-espectrometría de masas. También se determinará la capacidad antioxidante de la CHH. Tras esta caracterización química, se evaluará in vitro el perfil de eficacia y seguridad de la miel. Para ello, se medirá el efecto de la CHH sobre macrófagos, fibroblastos y S. pseudintermedius. Por último, se comprobará el efecto in vivo de esta formulación sobre la cicatrización de heridas en ratones. Para ello, se realizará un ensayo de cicatrización de heridas, junto con el análisis histopatológico de biopsias de heridas y la determinación de parámetros hematológicos, para evaluar los cambios locales y sistémicos en los animales objeto de estudio. Con este proyecto, esperamos verificar y obtener nueva información sobre la capacidad de cicatrización de la miel chilena aplicada en hidrogeles en heridas infectadas por S. pseudintermedius. Esto permitirá contar con más herramientas para tratar eficientemente este tipo de patologías en medicina veterinaria.

Ocean Island Volcanoes (OIVs) and seamounts are one of the most common, prominent and rapidly formed but least studied (from a geological/volcanological point of view) features on Earth. OIVs, which represent only the summit section of a much larger volcanic edifice rising up from the sea floor, are highly vulnerable to geological hazards such as volcanism, seismic activity, mass wasting (caldera formation), landslides and rockfalls, and tsunamis. Specifically, a volcanic eruption on an OIV can mainly have a substantial impact on the local population, infrastructure and economy. It is then essential understand the characteristic behaviour and the ages of the recent eruptions of the volcano to enhance the capacity to identify future geological hazard processes such as eruptions, tsunamis, etc. In other words, to forecast how a volcano will behave, it is essential to identify, map and analyse the deposits from past eruptions and determine the ages of those deposits. However, this becomes more challenging on Ocean Island Volcanoes that have not experienced recent eruptions, such as Easter Island (Chile), but which may still pose a significant risk of future eruption. This proposal focuses on Easter Island (Rapa Nui or Isla de Pascua), an isolated southeast Pacific island with 7.750 inhabitants, that receives more than 100.000 tourists per year. This island has been catalogued as one of the 92 active volcanos of Chile by the Chilean mining and geological service, occupying the 46th position in its Volcanic Risk ranking. It was included taking into account the recent activity focused on Terevaka volcano and its peripheral vents and other factors as the population and infrastructures exposure and its high amount of visitors per year. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of robust geochronology and volcano-stratigraphy and morphometry for Easter Island, especially for these most recent eruptions. Therefore, a comprehensive study of its Holocene eruptions regarding their styles, a more accurate age determination, and a well identification of submarine volcanic centres around the island is still pending to evaluate its potential volcanic hazard. The main aim of this project is to identify and study the most recent eruptions of Easter Island, both onshore and offshore. This will allow understanding how and when they took place in terms of volume, diverse morphometric parameters, styles and their ages which will verify if the island is still active. To identify and characterize the style of the most recent eruptions (Holocene- last 11.700 Kyr) on the island it is planned to conduct geomorphologic and morhometryc analyses of subaerial and submarine recent volcanic deposits with and integrated onshore/offshore approach. Also, volcano-stratigraphy for the most recent cones and associated deposits onshore, with special attention to those hydrovolcanic eruptions will be analysed. To determine the number of Holocene eruptions on the island, 14C (for charcoal), 40Ar/39Ar (for rocks) techniques will be used. Moreover, we will identify and date tephras of lacustrine sedimentary records of the Rano Raraku, Rano Kao lakes and the Rano Aroi peat bog related to recent eruptions. A likely future eruption on the island or near its coasts would have negative and serious consequences; therefore, it is essential to undertake this scientific research aimed at improving the knowledge of the processes and their potential impacts. Furthermore, this study will also contribute to understanding the overall evolution of an interoceanic volcanic island whose results can be compared with other more studied OIVs in the world. In addition, this project will support undergraduate and graduate students, for whom this study will comprise most of their dissertation research, being an extraordinary opportunity for them. Moreover, this study will foster ongoing international collaboration, providing a pipeline for future student and faculty exchange, and will promote outreach educational experiences for the community, as well as more specialized seminars.

Esta investigación se enmarca en discusiones del campo interdisciplinario de los estudios de desastre, contribuyendo a la comprensión del rol de las comunidades en la gobernanza del riesgo. Estando establecido que los desastres relacionados con amenazas naturales se explican por la vulnerabilidad social, diversas agendas de desarrollo promueven políticas que prevengan futuros eventos mediante la reducción de la vulnerabilidad o el aumento de la resiliencia. A pesar de esto, diversos grupos sociales no solo son mayormente afectados por desastres según su clase, género, etnia/raza, ubicación, etc., sino además son excluidos de las instancias formales de gestión del riesgo. Los desastres en definitiva son políticos y expresan dinámicas de desarrollo desigual. Como respuesta, habitantes de territorios en riesgo deben organizar iniciativas que permitan resistir y hacer frente a posibles desastres, incrementando su propia resiliencia. Al igual que los desastres y sus riesgos subyacentes, estas iniciativas se inscriben en el contexto social y político más amplio. Sin embargo, no sabemos cómo ciertas crisis y transformaciones sociales más amplias influyen en estas iniciativas de resiliencia. Esta investigación se centra en Chile y el fenómeno denominado estallido social. Aunque el proceso abierto por el estallido, con sus movilizaciones y discursos críticos, abría la posibilidad de un nuevo escenario político en el país, actualmente esto está en entredicho. A pesar de ello, es de suma relevancia analizar si este contexto influye en cómo se gobiernan los riesgos en territorios expuestos a amenazas naturales. Es decir, si del estallido social emergió un conjunto de demandas por mayor justicia social y ambiental, es fundamental entender si tales discursos y prácticas interactúan (o no) con iniciativas locales que potencien una resiliencia justa que promueva la igualdad y sustentabilidad territorial. Por ello, el objetivo general del proyecto es: Analizar cómo los habitantes de territorios en riesgo experimentaron el estallido social, y cómo esta experiencia influencia la organización y el funcionamiento de iniciativas colectivas de resiliencia justa.

The brain is an energy intensive organ that requires a robust supply of nutrients and oxygen. The vasculature irrigating the brain is a huge and complex network of blood vessels fulfilling this requirement, while also protecting the neural tissue from blood-borne toxic substances. This regulated nutrient supply is accomplished by the formation of a highly selective molecular barrier, termed the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Dysfunction of the BBB or malformations of the vascular network are associated with pathological conditions that impair brain function, and can lead to death. Thus, appropriate morphogenesis and establishment of the brain vasculature is necessary for a healthy life. The brain vasculature forms during intrauterine development, matching brain growth in this same period. Anatomically, blood vessels grow first surrounding the brain primordium and then penetrate the parenchyma until they vascularize the periventricular zone. The molecular regulation of this patterned growth is not completely understood. Several signaling pathways are known to be involved in brain angiogenesis, including WNT, TGF-β, Hh, and NOTCH, which differentially regulate vascular growth. Recently, cholesterol has been shown to modulate angiogenic growth in other vascular beds by regulating the activity of the NOTCH pathway, suggesting that cholesterol levels could influence developmental angiogenesis in the brain. Interestingly, cholesterol is also required for signal transduction of the Hh pathway. In preliminary in vitro experiments, we have observed that brain endothelial cells activate an angiogenic program after cholesterol depletion. Here, we will extend those studies to in vivo models to determine the role of cholesterol in developmental brain angiogenesis. We propose that an increase in vascular cell cholesterol activates NOTCH and attenuates Hh signaling pathways, restricting sprouting angiogenesis and blood-brain barrier formation in mouse embryo brain vasculature. To test this hypothesis, we will study mouse embryos with altered cholesterol levels by dietary, pharmacological, and genetic manipulations. We expect these manipulations to induce a reduction or an increase in cholesterol levels in the brain vasculature during embryonic development, which we will evaluate by measuring cholesterol content in isolated vascular fragments. In all these models, we will (Specific aim 1) study vascularization in the brain during intrauterine development using immunofluorescence with specific antibodies against endothelium proteins. In addition, we will measure the levels of transcript and proteins of general key regulators of angiogenesis in isolated vascular fragments, using qPCR and Western blot. We will (Specific aim 2) also evaluate the state of the BBB in the brain vasculature of these models at a fetal stage when the barrier is already formed and functional. For this, we will use immunofluorescence to detect the presence of marker proteins of the BBB in vascular fragments, and we will measure their levels by Western blot. Further, we will test the functionality of the barrier by injecting a fluorescent tracer and evaluating its extravasation in the brain. Finally, we will (Specific aim 3) determine the activation of the NOTCH and Hh pathways in the brain vasculature of the models at the stage of maximal angiogenesis. We will use qPCR and Western blot to measure the levels of marker genes and proteins for these two pathways in vascular fragments, and Proximity Ligation In Situ Hybridization in tissue sections to evaluate the transcript levels of those markers in situ. We expect that the different models of dietary, pharmacological, and genetic interventions will increase or reduce cholesterol levels in the brain vasculature. These changes are expected to correlate with opposing effects on angiogenesis in the brain during development (i.e. low cholesterol will increase angiogenesis, while high cholesterol will inhibit it). In the same way, we expect that distinct cholesterol levels will have opposing effects on the integrity of the BBB. These changes in angiogenesis and BBB function are expected to be associated with concomitant disruption of the NOTCH and Hh pathways. In summary, in this proposal we aim to cover a knowledge gap regarding the role of cholesterol in the regulation of developmental angiogenesis in the brain. These experiments may uncover new mechanisms driving vascular growth and barrier establishment in the brain, which could lead to new strategies for the prevention and treatment of pathologies involving the brain vasculature.

Proyecto de investigación que apunta al estudio de practicas sostenibles para el manejo de sistemas silvopastoril en el secano costero. El proyecto involucra el estudio de la materia orgánica del suelo, además de una serie de variables que pueden impactar el manejo de los agroecosistemas

SaviaLab es la combinación de dos términos: Savia (la energía, elemento vivificador) y Laboratorio (lugar con los medios para realizar investigaciones, experimentos y trabajos científicos y técnicos). SaviaLab es una iniciativa impulsada por la Fundación para la Innovación Agraria (FIA), que busca ser un agente activo en el desarrollo de las comunidades educativas locales, impulsando la innovación temprana con un enfoque silvoagropecuario, para la construcción de una sociedad más analítica y propositiva. Promoviendo formas de vivir que reconozcan y releven las heterogeneidades culturales, ambientales y sociales, favoreciendo prácticas colaborativas en el respeto de la sabiduría y valores tradicionales en un entorno en constante transformación. Buscamos contribuir con las comunidades educativas locales, en el desarrollo y fortalecimiento de habilidades y competencias, que favorezcan y promuevan el bienestar y el desarrollo integral de sus miembros y sus entornos, a través de procesos de innovación temprana con un enfoque silvoagropecuario. SaviaLab se trabajará en grupos de estudiantes quienes desarrollarán un proyecto de innovación a lo largo de toda la experiencia formativa. El avance del proyecto se llevará a cabo a través de la realización de actividades individuales y grupales, así como en clases o salidas a terreno, todas apoyadas con material didáctico en formato hojas de trabajo. Además, cada docente podrá adoptar la metodología a diversas asignaturas o talleres, según su especialidad, y así propiciar el trabajo colaborativo entre docentes. El modelo de innovación propuesto por SaviaLab, comprende un proceso de 2 fases: La fase Formativa seguida de la fase Concurso, espacio en donde los equipos de docentes y estudiantes presentan los resultados de lo desarrollado en la fase Formativa. La fase formativa, considera 6 etapas conducentes al desarrollo de una idea innovadora, las cuales se distribuyen en dos unidades. Cada una de estas etapas plantea desafíos diferentes que adquieren sentido al ser considerados como parte de un proceso mayor: la innovación temprana. En su versión 2024, se ejecutará en un formato híbrido, que considera actividades presenciales y actividades remotas tanto para la Fase Formativa como para la Fase Concurso.

Proyecto de investigación que apunta al estudio de practicas sostenibles para el manejo de sistemas silvopastoril en el secano costero. El proyecto involucra el estudio de la materia orgánica del suelo, además de una serie de variables que pueden impactar el manejo de los agroecosistemas

El propósito del proyecto consiste en conocer si el cine de índole intercultural funciona como un mecanismo educativo capaz de contrarrestar actitudes de racismo o discriminación en escuelas públicas de las regiones de O'Higgins y del Maule, específicamente, en escuelas públicas que ofrecen enseñanza básica y que tienen alta matrícula con niños y niñas migrantes