https://hdl.handle.net/10481/23715 Mon, 06 Apr 2026 06:15:33 GMT 2026-04-06T06:15:33Z https://hdl.handle.net/10481/101910 Microbial nitrogen cycle: determination of microbial functional activities and related compounds in environmental samples Correa Galeote, David; Tortosa, Germán; Bedmar, Eulogio J. https://hdl.handle.net/10481/101910 https://hdl.handle.net/10481/101908 Quantification of functional microbial nitrogen cycle genes in environmental samples Correa Galeote, David; Tortosa, Germán; Bedmar, Eulogio J. https://hdl.handle.net/10481/101908 https://hdl.handle.net/10481/91535 Toxoplasma gondii and Schizophrenia: A Relationship That Is Not Ruled Out Sorlozano Puerto, Antonio; Gutiérrez Fernández, José Over recent years, it has been proposed that some diseases of unknown origin, such as schizophrenia, may be caused by persistent chronic infections coupled with a genetic component and may be perpetuated by the immune system. This hypothesis is supported by epidemiological and biological evidence on the exposure of schizophrenics to infec‐ tious diseases during prenatal or postnatal periods, including Toxoplasma gondii, chla‐ mydia, human herpes virus, human endogenous retroviruses, parvovirus B19, mumps, and flu viruses. This growing list of microbes will undoubtedly continue to increase in the future. Linking infection to schizophrenia is a complex challenge that requires further experimental and epidemiological research. T. gondii is the infectious agent that has most frequently been related to neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, and it is considered to represent a highly useful model to analyze the influence of a microorgan‐ ism on human behavior and the development of psychiatric disease. It may also help to detect patient subpopulations susceptible to treatment with specific antimicrobials by improving definition of the differential phenotype of the disease, and it offers the possibility of a preventive approach. https://hdl.handle.net/10481/91535 https://hdl.handle.net/10481/32292 Bioresources for third-generation Picazo-Espinosa, Rafael; González López, Jesús Juan; Manzanera Ruiz, Maximino Modern societies’ welfare relies greatly on fossil fuels. The current energy model, based on the extensive utilization of fossil fuels, is affected by economic and environmental problems. The United States Department of Energy 2009 report estimates that, within the next two decades, global energy consumption will double (Conti, 2009). On the other hand, the European Commission 2009 report indicates that the management of climate change problems in Europe, since 2000, has been globally unfavourable. Nevertheless, there are some positive signs, such as the 1.4% reduction in 2007 of CO2 emissions with respect to the figures obtained from 2000 to 2004 in the European Union of Fifteen (E-15). However, considering the 27 European states (E-27), and paying attention to the consumption and production of renewable energy and biofuels, the reduction in emissions has not fulfilled the European Union objectives. Among the motives of this negative evaluation, the fall in the companies’ productivity, increased transport and industry emissions and the reduction in research and development areas can be cited (Radermacher, 2009). First- and secondgeneration biofuels could ameliorate or solve the associated fossil fuel depletion problems, although their recent implantation has raised some doubts. The main problems associated with biofuels are the food vs. fuel controversy; the agricultural and forestry land usage and the actual sustainability of biofuels’ production. Third-generation biofuels, based on the microbiological processing of agricultural, urban and industrial residues, could be a possible solution. However, several technical problems must be solved to make them economically viable and easily affordable for the industry (Robles-Medina et al., 2009). https://hdl.handle.net/10481/32292