http://hdl.handle.net/10366/156968 2026-05-05T10:24:10Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/170776 [EN]Pollen grains are being explored as innovative biomaterials for different applications, ranging from oral drug delivery to encapsulation of food additives, with the production of pollen-based building blocks standing on its robust, chemically inert, and mechanically durable sporopollenin wall. Yet, concerns remain regarding the safety of sporopollenin microcapsules (SMCs) or derivatized sporopollenin materials purified from pollen grains, traditionally linked to allergies. Herein, we address the critical question of whether sporopollenin shells purified from bee pollen may cause allergic reactions by evaluating their interaction with human immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies in sera from patients with and without allergic sensitization to pollen of specific species. Clean SMCs from Castanea sativa, Amaranthaceae (Chenopodium album), and Olea europaea pollen grains were successfully produced using a species-independent chemical treatment and characterized. The Covaris Adaptive Focused Acoustics™ (AFA) technology was employed for protein extraction from the bee pollen and the SMCs, yielding 0.72—1.25 ng and 0.026 ng—0.028 ng of protein per pollen grain, respectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis also confirmed that the surface nitrogen content of the SMCs was minimal, ranging from 0.9% to 2.7%. SDS-PAGE, followed by immunoblotting analysis, showed that proteins extracted from bee pollen strongly reacted with IgE antibodies in human sera, whereas SMCs did not trigger allergic sensitization. Overall, our findings suggest that while bee pollen proteins could elicit allergic reactions in sensitive patients, SMCs do not, highlighting their potential as safe biomaterials for various applications and offering valuable insights into the allergenic potential of bee pollen. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/170775 [ES]La exposición al polen y a las esporas fúngicas constituye un factor ambiental crítico en la fisiopatología de las enfermedades respiratorias alérgicas, cuya prevalencia ha ido aumentando en entornos urbanos, caracterizados por condiciones ecológicas favorables. En este contexto, el presente estudio tuvo como objetivo caracterizar, desde el punto de vista clínico y epidemiológico, a la población de Bragança con sospecha de alergia al polen y a Alternaria alternata. Se trata de un estudio observacional, descriptivo, transversal y retrospectivo, basado en el análisis de 100 historias clínicas, con datos obtenidos mediante cuestionarios estructurados y pruebas cutáneas por punción (prick-test) con trece extractos alergénicos: doce polínicos y uno específico de Alternaria alternata. La muestra estuvo compuesta mayoritariamente por individuos de género femenino (53 %), con edad media de 23,9 ± 15,3 años, predominando residentes en zonas urbanas (86 %). El 42 % tenía animales de compañía, el 37 % presentaba exposición al tabaco y el 19 % vivía en viviendas con moqueta. Los síntomas más frecuentes fueron rinitis alérgica (99 %), rinoconjuntivitis (97 %), eccema (45 %) y sibilancias (44 %). Se observó polisensibilización en el 97 % de los participantes, con sensibilizaciones dirigidas a mezclas de gramíneas silvestres (96 %), gramíneas cultivadas (82 %), Olea europaea L. (80 %), mezclas de hierbas (78 %), Plantago lanceolata L. (75 %) y Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl. (8 %). Estas evidencias permiten concluir un patrón de sensibilización compatible con alergias respiratorias en la población de Bragança. [PT]A exposição a pólen e esporos fúngicos constitui um determinante ambiental crítico na fisiopatologia das doenças respiratórias alérgicas, cuja prevalência tem vindo a aumentar em ambientes urbanos, caracterizados por condições ecológicas favoráveis à dispersão de espécies alergénicas. Neste contexto, o presente estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar, do ponto de vista clínico e epidemiológico, a população de Bragança com suspeita de alergia a grãos de pólen e à Alternaria alternata. Trata-se de um estudo observacional, descritivo, transversal e retrospetivo, baseado na análise de 100 histórias clínicas, com dados obtidos através de questionários estruturados e testes cutâneos por picada (prick-test) com treze extratos alergénicos: doze polínicos e um específico de Alternaria alternata. A amostra foi maioritariamente composta por indivíduos do sexo feminino (53 %), com idade média de 23,9 ± 15,3 anos, predominando residentes em meio urbano (86 %). Observou-se que 42 % possuíam animais de companhia, 37 % tinham exposição tabágica e 19 % residiam em habitações com alcatifa. Os sintomas mais frequentes foram rinite alérgica (99 %), rinoconjuntivite (97 %), eczema (45 %) e pieira (44 %). A polissensibilização foi observada em 97 % dos participantes, com sensibilizações predominantemente dirigidas à mistura de gramíneas silvestres (96 %), gramíneas cultivadas (82 %), Olea europaea L. (80 %), misturas de ervas (78 %), Plantago lanceolata L. (75 %) e Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl. (8 %). Estas evidências permitem concluir a existência de um padrão de sensibilização compatível com quadros de alergia respiratória na população de Bragança. [EN]Exposure to pollen and fungal spores constitutes a critical environmental determinant in the pathophysiology of allergic respiratory diseases, the prevalence of which has been increasing in urban environments characterised by ecological conditions favourable to the dispersal of allergenic species. In this context, this study aimed to characterize, from a clinical and epidemiological point of view, the population of Bragança with suspected allergies to pollen grains and Alternaria alternata. This is an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional and retrospective study, based on the analysis of 100 clinical histories, with data obtained through structured questionnaires and prick-tests with thirteen allergenic extracts: twelve pollen and one specific to Alternaria alternata. The majority of the sample was female (53 %), with an average age of 23.9 ± 15.3 years, predominantly living in urban areas (86 %). 42% owned pets, 37 % were exposed to smoking and 19 % lived in houses with carpeting. The most frequent symptoms were allergic rhinitis (99 %), rhinoconjunctivitis (97 %), eczema (45 %) and wheezing (44 %). Polysensitization was observed in 97 % of participants, with sensitizations predominantly directed at wild grass mixtures (96 %), cultivated grasses (82 %), Olea europaea L. (80 %), herb mixtures (78 %), Plantago lanceolata L. (75 %) and Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl. (8 %). This evidence suggests that there is a pattern of sensitization compatible with respiratory allergies in the population of Bragança. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/170773 [EN]Airborne pollen exposure is a major trigger of respiratory allergy, but long-term aerobiological series from the Southern Hemisphere remain scarce. We analyzed changes in the intensity, time and meteorological variables of major allergenic pollen types in Talca, a representative city of central Chile, over nearly two decades. Daily pollen counts from Hirst-type volumetric traps were obtained for three seasons (2007/2008, 2013/2014 and 2024/2025), and the annual pollen integral (APIn) and main pollen season (MPS) metrics were calculated for nine relevant taxa and for total pollen. The APIn increased by more than 240% between the first and last periods, with particularly marked rises for Olea, Cupressaceae, Poaceae, Corylus and several herbaceous plants. For many taxa, the MPS started earlier and/or ended later in 2024/2025, lengthening clinically relevant exposure windows, whereas Platanus and Populus maintained short but intense spring peaks. Cupressaceae showed an extended MPS of about six months, and Olea and Corylus exhibited sharp increases in seasonal totals consistent with recent expansion of nearby plantations. Temperature emerged as the main, though taxon-specific, driver of day-to-day variability, with Poaceae positively associated with temperature and solar radiation and negatively with relative humidity, while some arboreal taxa showed negative correlations coefficients with temperature. Our results indicate an intensification and extension of pollen seasons in the city of Talca. General implications for clinical and public‑health are discussed. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/167279 [EN]Honey is a natural food with significant nutritional and medicinal bene fits, whose properties depend on the flora and environment where it is produced. Sensory analysis is crucial to assess its quality, considering aspects such as color, aroma, taste, and texture. In addition to physicochemical and pollen analyses, organoleptic analysis helps verify the authenticity of honey, especially monofloral honeys. This product has a positive impact on the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting beekeeping and protecting pollinators. The sensory analysis process of honey is divided into different phases to evaluate its organoleptic attributes, including both qualitative and quantitative methods, using hedonic or intensity scales to measure sensory attributes. This process requires several stages in order: preparation, visual evaluation, olfactory evaluation, taste evaluation, tactile evaluation, and finally, the recording and processing of the results obtained. These sensory analyses are fundamental in the food industry as they allow us to understand how the senses influence the consumer experience. In the case of honey, educational tastings are an excellent way to explore the wide variety of honey types and promote the appreciation of its quality. These activities also provide networking opportunities and contribute to social responsibility, while raising awareness about the importance of pollinators. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/167224 [EN] The study of pollen content and fungal spores in honey (melissopalynol ogy), plays a key role in identifying the botanical and geographical origins of this hive product. With this aim, it is essential to describe the features of pollen such as its morphology, including polarity and symmetry, size and color, shape, sculpturing, and aperture system. Quantitative and qualitative analyses are used to determine honey origins, aiding in quality control and fraud detection. Quantitative methods classify honey based on pollen concentration, while qualitative analysis identifies pollen types through microscopy, allowing for the categorization of honeys as monofloral, polyfloral, or honeydew, based on pollen content and botanical sources. However, where they exist, regulatory standards vary with different pollen percent age thresholds for the classification of monofloral honey. Furthermore, it is impor tant to note that honeydew honey, unlike floral honey, originates from tree sap processed by insects, containing fungal spores and other honeydew elements instead of significant pollen. Accurate classification enhances market value and strengthens consumer confidence, ensuring that the quality and authenticity of the product they are purchasing can be trusted. As a result, pollen analysis proves to be a valuable tool in the honey industry. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/167211 [EN]Fungal spore calendars help illustrate the abundance and distribution of spores throughout the year, enabling clinicians and patients to predict and treat allergic symptoms based on spore presence and concentration. This three-year study (2021–2024) established the first fungal spore calendar for the most clinically important spore types in Lima, Perú: Alternaria, Cladosporium, Nigrospora, Curvularia, Drechslera, Fusarium, and Stemphylium. Air sampling was performed using a Burkard volumetric spore trap placed on the rooftop of SANNA Clínica el Golf in San Isidro, Lima. Cladosporium was the most abundant (37,945 spores/m3), followed by Nigrospora (11,558), Curvularia (3946), Fusarium (2454), Alternaria (2138), Drechslera (1850), and Stemphylium (201). The highest concentrations of Alternaria, Nigrospora, Curvularia, and Drechslera were recorded in 2023–2024, with seasonal peaks mainly during spring/summer. Meteorological correlations showed that Alternaria, Cladosporium, Nigrospora, and Curvularia were positively correlated with temperature while Drechslera had a negative correlation. Cladosporium, Curvularia, Fusarium, and Stemphylium were negatively correlated with relative humidity, while other types showed a mix of both positive and negative responses or inverse responses. These two meteorological parameters are likely the main influences on spore concentrations; however, other factors may include other meteorological parameters. Cladosporium correlated positively with southwesterly winds, and negatively with northwesterly, winds, and Curvularia was positively correlated with northeasterly winds. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/167072 [EN]The airway epithelium is the first line of defense of the respiratory system against the external environment. It plays an active role in the initiation of immune and allergic responses against potential hazards. Among the various specialized cells and cytokines that participate in epithelium-induced responses, alarmins are particularly interesting, given their ample role in mediating T2 and non-T2 inflammatory mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an alarmin with broad effects in asthma that result from its widespread action on multiple cell types, including eosinophils, mast cells, dendritic cells, and group-2 innate lymphoid cells. Its role in allergy-mediated responses, eosinophilic inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness, mucus hyperproduction, viral tolerance, and airway remodeling is of the utmost importance, as more comprehensive asthma assessments have been developed to explore these pathogenic features. Therefore, blockade with targeting molecules, such as monoclonal antibodies, has emerged as a promising therapeutic option, particularly in patients with multiple pathogenic pathways. In this review, we examine the roles of alarmins (mainly TSLP) in the pathogenesis of asthma and clinical expression and discuss the effects of inhibiting TSLP on several inflammatory and clinical outcomes. We also review the literature supporting treatment with anti-TSLP biologics and the unanswered questions and unmet needs associated with targeting alarmins in asthma. 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/166949 [ES]Reconocimiento de la primera descripción de una nueva entidad denominada hipertriptasemia familiar. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/160496 [EN] The allergenic nature of ash (Fraxinus sp.), an important element of the dehesas, has been poorly studied in meridional Europe owing to the low concentrations of this pollen type in the atmosphere. However, it has cross-reactivity with Olea L. and other homologous allergens of trees and herbaceous species, leading to earlier and more prolonged respiratory allergenic symptoms. The main aims of this work were to characterize the main pollen season (MPS) of ash from 2011 to 2022, to evaluate the influence of meteorological variables on airborne concentrations of this pollen type and to elaborate a pollen calendar for Fraxinus in Salamanca. The aeropalynological analysis for the eleven years of the study shows that the MPS for Fraxinus begins on 27 th December until 4 th April with an average duration of 100 days, a mean peak value of 57 grains/m3 reached on 22 nd February and a mean annual pollen integral of 567 grains/m3, observing an earlier onset of MPS, an increase in its duration and a decrease in its concentrations, presumably linked to climate change. Regarding the influence of meteorological parameters on pollen concentrations, positive correlations were found for maximum and mean temperatures and insolation, as well as southeast winds and frequency of calms, while negative correlations were reported for precipitation, relative humidity, and wind speed. The analyze of Fraxinus pollen could be used to predict seasonal behavior and warn people who may suffer pollinosis either from ash pollen or from cross-reactivity events. 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/160296 [ES]Uno de los objetivos de la Consejería de Sanidad es la protección de la salud de los ciudadanos y para ello lleva a cabo actuaciones de vigilancia y control de los riesgos para la salud relacionados con la alteración del medio en que se desenvuelve la vida. Los estudios aerobiológicos proporcionan una importante información para las personas que padecen procesos alérgicos y para los profesionales biosanitarios, lo que permite adoptar medidas para prevenir o minimizar los síntomas de las alergias polínicas. La información sobre los niveles de polen y las previsiones de esos niveles se ofrece a los usuarios con los medios más idóneos que posibilita la tecnología de la información. Así, puede obtenerse esta información en el Portal de Salud de la Junta de Castilla y León (http://www.salud.jcyl.es/polen), en los medios de comunicación y recientemente mediante el Servicio de Información polínica de Castilla y León a través de sms. La importancia del polen como aeroalergeno llevó a la creación de la Red Aerobiológica de Castilla y León (RACYL), en el año 2006, mediante un convenio de colaboración entre la Junta de Castilla y León y la Universidad de León. En la actualidad Castilla y León dispone de 12 estaciones de medida, ubicadas en las nueve capitales de provincia, en Arenas de San Pedro, Miranda de Ebro y Ponferrada. Este sistema de vigilancia, que cuenta con los mejores instrumentos y profesionales, permite obtener el conocimiento de los niveles de polen en el aire de nuestra Comunidad Autónoma. 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/160293 [EN] The aim of the present chapter was to describe the Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae pollen dynamics in the atmosphere of two cities of the Middle-West of Spain (Salamanca and Valladolid). Samples were collected by the volumetric method with the aid of two Burkard spore-traps located in the centre of both urban cities during years 2005 and 2006. This pollen type was mainly detected in the atmosphere between late Spring and late Summer, with a Main Pollen Season registered between late May and early October and maximum concentrations detected in August. The intra-diurnal pattern, calculated by means of three different methods, was very similar for both towns reaching a higher hourly concentration percentage in the second half of the day. The correlations obtained between daily pollen counts and different meteorological parameters showed that the airborne presence of this pollen type is positively associated with temperature and negatively with rainfall during MPS. According to known threshold (10-15 pollen/m3), Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae pollen concentrations exceeded this threshold during 1 day in 2005 and during 12 days in 2006. 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/160292 [EN] Pteridophyte airborne spores are scarcely represented worldwide compared to fungal spores or even to pollen grains. However, the levels of fern spores in the atmosphere are connected to the distribution and abundance of different Pteridophyta species, being tropical and subtropical zones of Asia, America and Africa, the areas where fern spores are most abundant. Their seasonal distribution includes all the months in tropical zones, according to the continuous sporing process that usually occurs because of the sequential development of sporangia in the different fern species. In temperate areas, the presence of airborne spores is located in late Summer and early Autumn. In addition, there are few studies reporting information about hourly distribution of fern spores in the atmosphere, in which bracken spores were mainly observed at midday when spore traps are located near to fern formations. Airborne spore concentrations are also higher in near zones of fern populations and lower when spore traps move away of these zones, being registered processes of transport. 2010-10-12T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/160290 [EN] of around half a million spores per year and individual in Cyathea arborea (L.) Sm. (Conant 1978), 50 million spores in Dryopteris intermedia (Muhl. ex Willd.) A. Gray, 90 million in Osmunda claytoniana L. (Mickel 1982) or up to 100 million spores in Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott (Schneller 1975). The dispersion of these spores is mainly through wind, except in aquatic species (Sharpe et al. 2010), although there are some cases of spore dispersal by animals (Boch et al. 2016). However, the dispersal capacity of the spores is controversial, with some authors claiming that their potential capacity is high (Schneller and Liebst 2007) and others claiming that they are a few metres away from the sporophyte producer (Penrod and McCormick 1996). Recent studies support a limited wind dispersion capacity strongly influenced by the lipid and moisture content of the spores (Gómez-Noguez et al. 2016). In the case of spores dispersed by animals, there is also scattering at short distances, such as slugs passing through the digestive tract (Boch et al. 2013), or at long distances through bats (Sugita et al. 2013). In this chapter we will focus on the airborne spores of ferns and lycopods, updating the advances and applications discussed by Rodríguez de la Cruz et al. (2010) and incorporating notes on spore morphology as well as a simple identification key for the different genera identified in the atmosphere 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/160093 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/160092 [ES]La aerobiología es una ciencia muy reciente, definida como tal a mediados del siglo XX, que trata del estudio de la liberación, retención, dispersión, transporte, deposición e incidencia en la atmósfera de granos de polen, esporas y otros microorganismos aerovagantes, así como de partículas de origen no biológico. En su devenir histórico ha desempeñado un papel importante en disciplinas del ámbito biosanitario, debido a los procesos alérgicos desencadenados por partículas biológicas, aunque en el transcurso de los últimos años, la aerobiología se ha vinculado a un amplio abanico de campos de investigación, que van desde la medicina forense hasta la meteorología y su deriva ambiental, en lo que se conoce como calentamiento global o cambio climático. No obstante, en los diversos aspectos que engloba la agricultura, conviene destacar la utilidad de esta ciencia en la predicción de cosechas y en la posible relación entre la producción de polen previa y la producción vegetal agrícola, principalmente para la vid y el olivo en el área mediterránea, así como en trabajos asociados a enfermedades vegetales, y en especial, en el control de plagas fúngicas. 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/160091 [ES] Los parques urbanos son elementos de la infraestructura verde que deben contribuir a mejorar la calidad de vida y el bienestar ciudadano. En este trabajo se presentan los resultados de la aplicación de un novedoso índice que estima la alergenicidad potencial de las zonas verdes urbanas. Este índice, que contempla parámetros biológicos y biométricos intrínsecos a las especies arbóreas existentes en los parques, genera un resultado cuyo valor está comprendido entre 0 y 1 según el potencial alergénico del parque sea nulo o de riesgo alto para la población. En una primera fase el índice se ha aplicado a parques de diferente tipología, diseño, tamaño, riqueza específica y biodiversidad ubicados en 20 ciudades españolas. Los resultados han mostrado que algunos de los parques estudiados registran un valor de índice superior a 0,30, umbral suficiente para causar síntomas de alergia a la población expuesta, y por tanto, de riesgo moderado o alto. Por el contrario, en la mayoría de los parques se obtuvo un valor inferior a este umbral. También es posible conocer cuáles son las especies que más contribuyen al valor resultante, que son aquellas con estrategia de polinización anemófila, periodos de floración extensos y alta alergenicidad referenciada. Estos requisitos los cumplen todas las especies de las familias Betuláceas, Cupresáceas y Moráceas, y en menor extensión, Oleáceas y Platanáceas. Puede concluirse que el desarrollo de un índice de estimación de alergenicidad de espacios verdes urbanos constituye una herramienta de utilidad para minimizar el impacto de la alergia polínica en la población. [EN] Urban parks are green infrastructure elements that should contribute to improving the quality of life and well-being of citizens. In this work there are presented the results of applying a new index to estimate the potential allergenicity of parks located in 20 Spanish cities. This index, which considers intrinsic biological and biometric parameters of existing plant species in parks, allows the allergenic risk thereof to be calculated on a scale ranging from 0 to 1, depending on whether to the park’s allergenicity is zero or has a high risk for the population. The parks selected for this study have different typologies, sizes, species richness and biodiversities, which has yielded highly variable index values. Almost half of the analysed parks have an index value higher than 0.30, a threshold considered having a moderate to high risk, and therefore, enough to cause allergy symptoms in the population. Conversely, most of the parks had an index value below this threshold, so that the risk of suffering allergies is low or very low. The formula also allows the species that most contribute to the resulting value for allergenicity to be known, which are those having an anemophillous strategy of pollination, extended periods of flowering, and a referenced high allergenicity. These requirements are met by all species of the Betulaceae, Cupressaceae and Moraceae families, and to a lesser extent by Oleaceae and Platanaceae. It can be concluded that the development of an index to estimate the allergenicity of urban green spaces constitutes a useful tool to minimize the impact of pollen allergy on the population. [PT] Os parques urbanos são elementos da infraestrutura verde que devem contribuir para a melhoria da qualidade de vida dos cidadãos. Neste trabalho apresentam-se os resultados da aplicação de um índice inovador, que permite estimar a alergenicidade potencial dos espaços verdes urbanos. Este índice, que inclui parâmetros biológicos e biométricos, intrínsecos às próprias espécies existentes nos parques, tem como resultado um valor numa escala entre 0 e 1, de acordo com o potencial alergénico do parque, caso este seja, respetivamente e nos seus extremos, nulo ou de máximo risco para as populações. O índice foi aplicado em parques de diferentes tipologias, desenho, tamanho, riqueza específica e biodiversidade, situados em 20 cidades espanholas. Os resultados demonstram que alguns dos parques estudados registam um valor de índice superior a 0,30, limite suficiente para causar sintomas de alergia na população exposta, e por tanto, risco moderado a alto. No entanto, a maioria dos parques apresenta um valor inferior a este limite. Também é possível conhecer quais as espécies que mais contribuem para o valor do índice, que correspondem aquelas com a estratégia de polinização anemófila, períodos de floração extensos e potencial alergénico referenciado. Estes requisitos são aplicáveis a todas as espécies das famílias Betuláceas, Cupressáceas e Moráceas, e em menor medida, Oleáceas e Platanáceas. Pode assim concluir-se que a aplicação de um índice de previsão dos níveis de alergenicidade dos espaços verdes urbanos constitui uma ferramenta útil para minimizar o impacto da alergia polínica sobre a população. 2016-06-15T00:00:00Z