Search

The present study aims to describe a new genus and species of microphalloid digenean parasite of two species of bats of the genus Peropteryx from the Mexican Neotropics (in the states of Chiapas and Yucatán). Morphological and molecular data (28s rDNA ribosomal gene sequences) were used to study Digeneans. Sagittatrema zutzi gen. nov. sp., nov., is diagnosed morphologically by having a sagittiform body, a genital pore in the midline of the body, posterior to the ventral sucker, and a cirrus sac running through much of the diameter of the ventral sucker. The nine sequences generated from the 28S rDNA gene were used to examine the phylogenetic affinities of this new taxon within the superfamily Microphalloidea Ward, 1901, using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference analyses. Both analyses resulted in trees with similar topologies and formed a well-supported clade (Bt = 100; pp = 1) with the Sagittatrema sequences. Because of the new genus's phylogenetic position and that some sister families to the proposed taxa, like Pleurogenidae and Prosthogonimidae, are polyphyletic, we prefer to consider Sagittatrema as a genus incertae sedis within Microphalloidea. A full systematic review of microphalloids is needed to confirm their phylogenetic position.

The evolutionary processes that underlie variation in plant genome size have been much debated. Abiotic factors are thought to have played an important role, with negative and positive correlations between genome size and seasonal or stressful climatic conditions being reported in several systems. In turn, variation in genome size may influence plant traits which affect interactions with other organisms, such as herbivores. The mechanisms underlying evolutionary linkages between plant genome size and biotic and abiotic factors nonetheless remain poorly understod. To address this gap, we conducted phylogenetically controlled analyses testing for associations between genome size, climatic variables, plant traits (defenses and nutrients), and herbivory across 29 oak (Quercus) species. Genome size is significantly associated with both temperature and precipitation seasonality, whereby oak species growing in climates with lower and less variable temperatures but more variable rainfall had larger genomes. In addition, we found a negative association between genome size and leaf nutrient concentration (found to be the main predictor of herbivory), which in turn led to an indirect effect on herbivory. A follow-up test suggested that the association between genome size and leaf nutrients influencing herbivory was mediated by variation in plant growth, whereby species with larger genomes have slower growth rates, which in turn are correlated with lower nutrients. Collectively, these findings reveal novel associations between plant genome size and biotic and abiotic factors that may influence life history evolution and ecological dynamics in this widespread tree genus., (© 2024 The Author(s). Ecology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Ecological Society of America.)

There are concerns about residues of drugs in meat that are used to prevent coccidiosis in chickens. Natural compounds are an alternative to drugs. Two studies investigated the effect of an extract of Enterolobium cyclocarpum fruits (EEC) in the feed of male Leghorn chickens exposed to Eimeria spp. In the first experiment, the administration of EEC after infection with Eimeria spp. was investigated over 16 days. One thousand chickens were randomly housed in 20 pens of 1 m 2 each. The pens were randomly assigned to each treatment. Five treatments were administered, containing 150, 300 and 450 mg/kg of EEC in the feed, the fourth treatment (C) contained 0.5 g/kg of a commercial anticoccidial, and the fifth treatment provided no treatment (WA). The second experiment lasted 18 days. Administration of the EEC began five days before the chickens were infected with Eimeria spp. Four hundred and eighty chickens were randomly allocated to 24 pens of 1 m 2 . The pens were randomly assigned to each treatment. In the second experiment, the same five treatments were tested and one additional treatment containing 300 mg EEC plus 1 g of polyethylene glycol (PEG)/kg of feed (E300PEG). In the experiment one chickens in the EEC treatments had lower faecal oocyst excretion (OE) on day 14 post infection with Eimeria spp., than chickens in the WA treatment (P < 0.05). A reduction in live weight gain (LWG) was observed in the EEC treatments (P < 0.05). In the second experiment, the excretion of oocysts in chickens from the EEC and E300PEG treatments on day 13 post-infection with Eimeria spp. was the same as in the C treatment and lower than in the WA treatment (P < 0.05). LWG was lower in the EEC treatments than in the C treatment (P < 0.05). However, the Chickens in the E300PEG and C treatments had similar LWG (P > 0.05) suggesting that PEG inhibits the negative effect of EEC tannins on LWG. In conclusion, the addition of EEC to chicken feed reduced both OE and LWG. Treatment with EEC and PEG (E300PEG) reduced the excretion of oocysts without negative effects on LWG., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Background: Montanoa grandiflora, a plant species native from Mexico to Central America, locally known as "Teresita" in Yucatán, México, is used to alleviate anxiety, rheumatism, and stomach issues. This study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory properties of the methanol extract of Montanoa grandiflora leaves (MMG) in experimental models of inflammation., Methods: Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy was used to characterize the MMG; cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT assay on murine macrophages and hemolysis assay. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated on LPS-stimulated murine macrophages by measuring of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, NO and H 2 O 2 release. The in vivo anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using carrageenan-induced mouse paw edema, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate induced-ear edema, and 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene induced-delayed-type hypersensitivity. In addition, the serum levels of prostaglandins and leukotrienes were assessed., Results: The main compounds found in MMG were terpenes (i.e., β-caryophyllene, (-)-α-cubebene, alloaromadendrene, ( +)-δ-cadinene, β-eudesmol), alkaloid (( ±)-nor-β-hydrastine), cyclic polyol (quinic acid), carbohydrates and their derivatives, and fatty acids (octadecatrienoic acid and octadecanoic acid). MMG did not exhibit cytotoxic or hemolytic activity. However, it demonstrated in vitro anti-inflammatory effects by increasing the production of IL-10, decreasing the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, NO and H 2 O 2 . MMG significantly reduced carrageenan-induced paw edema, TPA-induced ear edema, and DNFB-induced delayed-type hypersensitivity in mice with effects comparable to those of standard drugs, as well as serum levels of prostaglandins and leukotrienes., Conclusion: The anti-inflammatory activity of MMG is associated with increased IL-10 levels and inhibiting inflammatory cell migration mechanisms, without causing cytotoxic or hemolytic damage in both in vitro and in vivo assays., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Tropical mountain ecosystems harbor diverse biological communities, making them valuable models for exploring the factors that shape ecological interactions along environmental gradients. We investigated the spatial and temporal drivers of plant-hummingbird interaction networks across three forest types (pine-oak, fir, and subalpine) along a tropical high mountain gradient in western Mexico (2400 to 3700 m.a.s.l.). We measured species abundance, diversity, morphology, and interaction frequencies. Plant diversity metrics significantly declined in the highest elevation subalpine forest, whereas hummingbird diversity remained consistent across elevations. Interaction networks were similarly nested across elevations, but they were more specialized in the subalpine forest, where lower plant species richness and higher floral abundance led to greater resource partitioning among hummingbirds. Plant-hummingbird networks were larger and less specialized during the dry season, driven by greater species diversity and abundance. Species turnover explained network variation along the elevational gradient, while interaction rewiring and the arrival of migratory hummingbirds explained changes between seasons. Phenological overlap was the most important driver of the observed variation in interaction frequencies across elevations and seasons. Flower abundance had a minor influence on interaction frequencies at low- and mid-elevation networks, and hummingbird abundance was significant for dry- and rainy-season networks. Morphological matching was significant in the low-elevation forest and in the dry season. Plant phylogenetic relatedness had negligible effects on interaction patterns, but hummingbird phylogeny influenced feeding preferences in high-elevation and rainy-season networks. Our findings highlight the role of species turnover, interaction rewiring, and phenological overlap in structuring plant-hummingbird networks, with specific effects of abundance, morphology, and phylogeny varying with elevation and season. High-elevation ecosystems play a crucial role as reservoirs of floral resources for both resident and migratory hummingbirds during resource-scarce periods, emphasizing their importance in maintaining biodiversity in tropical mountain gradients., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Caterpillar feeding immediately triggers the release of volatile compounds stored in the leaves of cotton plants. Additionally, after 1 d of herbivory, the leaves release other newly synthesised volatiles. We investigated whether these volatiles affect chemical defences in neighbouring plants and whether such temporal shifts in emissions matter for signalling between plants. Undamaged receiver plants were exposed to volatiles from plants infested with Spodoptera caterpillars. For receiver plants, we measured changes in defence-related traits such as volatile emissions, secondary metabolites, phytohormones, gene expression, and caterpillar feeding preference. Then, we compared the effects of volatiles emitted before and after 24 h of damage on neighbouring plant defences. Genes that were upregulated in receiver plants following exposure to volatiles from damaged plants were the same as those activated directly by herbivory on a plant. Only volatiles emitted after 24 h of damage, including newly produced volatiles, were found to increase phytohormone levels, upregulate defence genes, and enhance resistance to caterpillars. These results indicate that the defence induction by volatiles is a specific response to de novo synthesised volatiles, suggesting that these compounds are honest signals of herbivore attack. These findings point to an adaptive origin of airborne signalling between plants., (© 2024 The Author(s). New Phytologist © 2024 New Phytologist Foundation.)

Amblyomma cf. parvum (Ixodida: Ixodidae) is an ectoparasite of domestic animals and wildlife on the American continent. There is little information on the efficacy of acaricides for the control of this tick species in domestic animals. Here, we determined the toxicological response of A. cf. parvum to amitraz, coumaphos, and cypermethrin. Engorged females of A. cf. parvum were collected (in two periods, eight months apart) from dogs in Yucatan, Mexico. The larval immersion test was used on the progeny of adult female ticks to test for amitraz susceptibility, and the larval package test was used to test for coumaphos and cypermethrin susceptibility. Dose-mortality regressions, lethal concentrations (LC), 95 % confidence intervals (CI95 %), and slopes were estimated by probit analysis. The lethal concentrations to kill 50 % of the tick population for amitraz, coumaphos, and cypermethrin in the first period were 1 ppm (CI95 %: 1-3 ppm), 10 ppm (CI95 %: 9-11 ppm), and 10 ppm (CI95 %: 9-10 ppm), respectively; meanwhile in the second period were 2 ppm (CI95 %: 1-3 ppm), 8 ppm (CI95 %: 6-10 ppm), and 9 ppm (CI95 %: 8-10 ppm), respectively. In conclusion, amitraz, coumaphos, and cypermethrin demonstrated high larvicidal efficacy in in vitro bioassays against A. cf. parvum populations infesting dogs., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Interferon regulatory factor 5 ( IRF5 ) is one of the pivotal genes implicated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) among diverse ethnic groups, including Europeans, Asians, Hispanics, and Africans. Notably, its significance appears particularly pronounced among Hispanic populations. Previous studies have identified several single-nucleotide variants within IRF5 , such as rs2004640G/T, rs2070197T/C, and rs10954213G/A, as associated with susceptibility to SLE among patients from Mexico City. However, the population of Yucatan, located in the Southeast of Mexico and characterized by a greater Amerindian genetic component, remains largely unexplored in this regard., Objectives: Our study aimed to replicate the observed association between IRF5 variants and susceptibility to SLE among patients from Central Mexico and Yucatan. Furthermore, we investigated the impact of IRF5 rs59110799G/T, a variant that has not been previously studied in SLE individuals., Method: Our study included 204 SLE patients and 160 controls from Central Mexico, as well as 184 SLE patients and 184 controls from Yucatan. All participants were females 18 years and older. We employed a TaqMan assay to detect the presence of the following single-nucleotide variants: rs2004640G/T, rs2070197T/C, rs10954213G/A, and rs59110799G/T. Furthermore, we utilized 2 distinct web tools and databases to predict the potential functional implications of IRF5 variants., Results: In SLE patients from Central Mexico, several IRF5 alleles showed significant associations with the disease following adjustment by the Bonferroni test: the rs2070197C allele (odds ratio [OR], 2.08), the rs10954213A allele (OR, 1.59), and the rs59110799G allele (OR, 1.71). Conversely, among patients from Yucatan, the following alleles showed associations: rs2004640T (OR, 1.51), rs2070197C (OR, 1.62), rs10954213A (OR, 1.67), and rs59110799G (OR, 1.44)., Conclusion: Our findings highlight genetic variations between Mexican populations and emphasize the role of IRF5 as a risk factor in SLE patients from both Central Mexico and Yucatan., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Plant-plant signalling via volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in response to insect herbivory has been widely studied, but its occurrence and specificity in response to pathogen attack has received much less attention. To fill this gap, we carried out a greenhouse experiment using two fungal pathogens (Fusarium solani and Phytophthora infestans) to test for specificity in VOC induction and signalling between potato plants (Solanum tuberosum). We paired potato plants in plastic cages, one acting as VOC emitter and the other as receiver, and subjected emitters to one of the following treatments: no infection (control), infected by F. solani, or infected by P. infestans. We measured total emission and composition of VOCs released by emitter plants to test for pathogen-specificity in VOC induction, and then conducted a pathogen infection bioassay to assess resistance levels on receiver plants by subjecting half of the receivers of each emitter treatment to F. solani infection and the other half to P. infestans infection. This allowed us to test for specificity in plant VOC signalling by comparing its effects on conspecific and heterospecific sequential infections. Results showed that infection by neither F. solani or P. infestans produced quantitative (total emissions) or qualitative (compositional) changes in VOC emissions. Mirroring these patterns, emitter infection treatment (control vs. pathogen infection) did not produce a significant change in pathogen infection levels on receiver plants in any case (i.e., either for conspecific or heterospecific sequential infections), indicating a lack of signalling effects which precluded pathogen-based specificity in signalling. We discuss possible mechanisms for lack of pathogen effects on VOC emissions and call for future work testing for pathogen specificity in plant-plant signalling and its implications for plant-pathogen interactions under ecologically relevant scenarios involving infections by multiple pathogens., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, whose genetic structure is divided into six discrete typing units (DTUs) known as TcI-TcVI. In the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, information regarding the DTUs circulating in wild mammals is scarce, while this is important knowledge for our understanding of T. cruzi transmission dynamics., Methods: In the current study, we sampled wild mammals in a sylvatic site of the Yucatan Peninsula and assessed their infection with T. cruzi by PCR. Then, for infected mammals, we amplified and sequenced nuclear and mitochondrial T. cruzi genetic markers for DTU identification., Results: In total, we captured 99 mammals belonging to the orders Chiroptera, Rodentia and Didelphimorphia. The prevalence of infection with T. cruzi was 9% (9/99; 95% CI [5, 16]), and we identified TcI in a Jamaican fruit bat, Artibeus jamaicensis. Moreover, we fortuitously identified Trypanosoma dionisii in another Jamaican fruit bat and detected an unidentified Trypanosoma species in a third specimen. While the latter discoveries were not expected because we used primers designed for T. cruzi, this study is the first to report the identification of T. dionisii in a bat from Yucatan, Mexico, adding to a recent first report of T. dionisii in bats from Veracruz, and first report of this Trypanosoma species in Mexico., Conclusion: Further research is needed to enhance our knowledge of T. cruzi DTUs and Trypanosoma diversity circulating in wildlife in Southeastern Mexico., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.)

Introduction: Few studies have explored the relationship between para-occupational exposure and risk perception in farmers' families. Women are indirectly involved in agricultural activities, even though their roles most of the time are hidden. Women's para-occupational exposure and risk perceptions are important to describe, since women have a key gender role in the family's health care and possibly in the impact of acting regarding pesticide safety education. Furthermore, in farmer families, the impact of para-occupational pesticide exposure on women's health has been neglected., Aim: Analyze pesticide para-occupational exposure scenario, knowledge, and health risk perception among women living in a farmer community., Methods: A mixed methodology was used. Two groups of women were identified to screen the exposure scenario: Women living in a farming family and women not living in a farming family. Data on para-occupational pesticide exposure and intradomicile practices were collected by questionnaire and semi-structured interviews to identify health risk perception and risk practices., Results: We observed a complex pesticide exposure scenario. All women were potentially exposed to pesticides through several pathways. One-third of the participants lived near a farming family or in proximity to neighbors that used pesticides at home, and one of every three women referred to spending time in a farmer's home. Among the group of women in a farming family ( n  = 18) stored pesticides inside the home was common; having the "safety practice" of storing pesticides in high places to avoid children being exposed. Women not living in farmimg families ( n  = 11) felt overexposed due to living in an agricultural community and agricultural drift exposure. Women from this group also mentioned feeling fear of developing cancerous diseases as well as fertility problems., Conclusions: Knowledge and risk perception of pesticide exposure are similar between groups; however, women living in farming families were less willing to attend preventive health check-ups or educational programs than women not living in a farming family.

Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula is an endemic area of cutaneous leishmaniasis, locally known as the chiclero's ulcer, and Mayan traditional medicine which refers to the use of Thouinia paucidentata Radlk, known as k'an chuunup. Aqueous and organic leaves extracts were evaluated against promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania mexicana. Toxicity tests of extracts were performed using Vero and J774A.1 macrophage cell lines. The composition of the most active extracts was analysed by GC-MS. The n -hexane and ethyl acetate extracts showed potent anti- Leishmania activity against the promastigote form, and remarkably, n -hexane extract exhibited potent activity against the amastigote form. Both extracts showed low toxicity on Vero both not on J774A.1 cells. Analysis of both bioactive extracts identified as more abundant compounds, germacrene D-4-ol and thunbergen in n -hexane, and thunbergol in ethyl acetate extracts. Our study presents T. paucidentata as anti- Leishmania phytomedicine supporting its medicinal use and contributes to the understanding of its phytochemical composition.

Urbanization impacts plant-herbivore interactions, which are crucial for ecosystem functions such as carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling. While some studies have reported reductions in insect herbivory in urban areas (relative to rural or natural forests), this trend is not consistent and the underlying causes for such variation remain unclear. We conducted a continental-scale study on insect herbivory along urbanization gradients for three European tree species: Quercus robur, Tilia cordata, and Fraxinus excelsior, and further investigated their biotic and abiotic correlates to get at mechanisms. To this end, we quantified insect leaf herbivory and foliar secondary metabolites (phenolics, terpenoids, alkaloids) for 176 trees across eight European cities. Additionally, we collected data on microclimate (air temperature) and soil characteristics (pH, carbon, nutrients) to test for abiotic correlates of urbanization effects directly or indirectly (through changes in plant secondary chemistry) linked to herbivory. Our results showed that urbanization was negatively associated with herbivory for Q. robur and F. excelsior, but not for T. cordata. In addition, urbanization was positively associated with secondary metabolite concentrations, but only for Q. robur. Urbanization was positively associated with air temperature for Q. robur and F. excelsior, and negatively with soil nutrients (magnesium) in the case of F. excelsior, but these abiotic variables were not associated with herbivory. Contrary to expectations, we found no evidence for indirect effects of abiotic factors via plant defences on herbivory for either Q. robur or F. excelsior. Additional biotic or abiotic drivers must therefore be accounted for to explain observed urbanization gradients in herbivory and their interspecific variation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Urban Heat Islands are a major environmental and public health concern, causing temperature increase in urban areas. This study used satellite imagery and machine learning to analyze the spatial and temporal patterns of land surface temperature distribution in the Metropolitan Area of Merida (MAM), Mexico, from 2001 to 2021. The results show that land surface temperature has increased in the MAM over the study period, while the urban footprint has expanded. The study also found a high correlation (r> 0.8) between changes in land surface temperature and land cover classes (urbanization/deforestation). If the current urbanization trend continues, the difference between the land surface temperature of the MAM and its surroundings is expected to reach 3.12 °C ± 1.11 °C by the year 2030. Hence, the findings of this study suggest that the Urban Heat Island effect is a growing problem in the MAM and highlight the importance of satellite imagery and machine learning for monitoring and developing mitigation strategies.

We discuss the potential usefulness of molecular testing of soil, dust, and water samples to detect medically important parasites, and where such testing could be used to supplement stool sampling in humans. A wide variety of parasites including protozoa and helminths, many of which are zoonotic, have an important infection reservoir in the environment. In some cases, this environmental period is essential for further parasite development. We describe the progress in implementing methods for the molecular detection of these parasites in soil across eight collaborating centers in Latin America and represent a variety of potential applications in improving our understanding of parasite epidemiology and mapping, surveillance, and control of these parasites. This methodology offers new opportunities for improving our understanding of a wide variety of parasites of public health importance and novel tools for their control.

The genus Flavivirus (Family: Flaviviridae) comprises arboviruses with the capacity to infect humans and animals. It also integrates insect-specific viruses. This study aimed to identify Flavivirus in mosquitoes captured in 17 municipalities in Yucatan State, Mexico. The mosquitoes were caught in households from November 2021 to May 2022. A total of 4,321 adult mosquitoes from five species were caught. The most abundant were Culex quinquefasciatus (n = 3,563) and Aedes aegypti (n = 734). For molecular investigations, 600 female mosquitoes were split into groups of 10, mostly for species and site location. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplified a region of the NS5 gene to find the Flavivirus ribonucleic acids (RNA). A total of 24 pools that were positive for Flavivirus were detected in Ae. aegypti specimens and subsequently subjected to sequencing using the Sanger method. A total of 12 sequences matched the established quality criteria and were subsequently employed for sequence homology analysis. We found that one sequence corresponded to the Zika virus (ZIKV), and 11 sequences had sequence similarity with Phlebotomus-associated flavivirus (PAFV), an insect-specific virus (ISF). In conclusion, we found ZIKV in the Merida municipality, Yucatan State, which suggests that the virus is silently circulating. Phlebotomus-associated flavivirus is distributed in five municipalities in Yucatan State, Mexico. Future studies could focus on isolating this virus and studying its biological role within Ae. aegypti.

Human Adenovirus (HAdV) infections in immunocompromised patients can result in disseminated diseases with high morbidity and mortality rates due to the absence of available treatments for these infections. The sponge Ircinia felix was selected for the significant anti-HAdV activity displayed by its organic extracts. Its chemical analysis yielded three novel sesterterpene lactams, ircinialactams J-L, along with three known sesterterpene furans which structures were established by a deep spectrometric analysis. Ircinialactam J displayed significant antiviral activity against HAdV without significant cytotoxicity, showing an effectiveness 11 times greater than that of the standard treatment, cidofovir®. Comparison of the antiviral evaluation results of the isolated compounds allowed us to deduce some structure-activity relationships. Mechanistic assays suggest that ircinialactam J targets an early step of the HAdV replicative cycle before HAdV genome reaches the nucleus of the host cell. The first total synthesis of ircinialactam J was also accomplished to prove the structure and to provide access to analogues. Key steps are a regio- and stereoselective construction of the trisubstituted Z-olefin at Δ 7 by iron-catalyzed carbometallation of a homopropargylic alcohol, a stereoselective methylation to generate the stereogenic center at C18, and the formation of the (Z)-Δ 20 by stereoselective aldol condensation to introduce the tetronic acid unit. Ircinialactam J is a promising chemical lead to new potent antiviral drugs against HAdV infections., (© 2024 The Author(s). Chemistry - A European Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Aedes mosquito-borne viruses (ABVs) place a substantial strain on public health resources in the Americas. Vector control of Aedes mosquitoes is an important public health strategy to decrease or prevent spread of ABVs. The ongoing Targeted Indoor Residual Spraying (TIRS) trial is an NIH-sponsored clinical trial to study the efficacy of a novel, proactive vector control technique to prevent dengue virus (DENV), Zika virus (ZIKV), and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infections in the endemic city of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. The primary outcome of the trial is laboratory-confirmed ABV infections in neighborhood clusters. Despite the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, by early 2021 the TIRS trial completed enrollment of 4,792 children aged 2-15 years in 50 neighborhood clusters which were allocated to control or intervention arms via a covariate-constrained randomization algorithm. Here, we describe the makeup and ABV seroprevalence of participants and mosquito population characteristics in both arms before TIRS administration. Baseline surveys showed similar distribution of age, sex, and socio-economic factors between the arms. Serum samples from 1,399 children were tested by commercially available ELISAs for presence of anti-ABV antibodies. We found that 45.1% of children were seropositive for one or more flaviviruses and 24.0% were seropositive for CHIKV. Of the flavivirus-positive participants, most were positive for ZIKV-neutralizing antibodies by focus reduction neutralization testing which indicated a higher proportion of participants with previous ZIKV than DENV infections within the cohort. Both study arms had statistically similar seroprevalence for all viruses tested, similar socio-demographic compositions, similar levels of Ae. aegypti infestation, and similar observed mosquito susceptibility to insecticides. These findings describe a population with a high rate of previous exposure to ZIKV and lower titers of neutralizing antibodies against DENV serotypes, suggesting susceptibility to future outbreaks of flaviviruses is possible, but proactive vector control may mitigate these risks., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication.)

This work evaluated the effects of cobalt nanoparticles (CoNPs) (0.025-7 mg/g VS ) on the intensification of sewage sludge anaerobic digestion (AD) using biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests. This study was motivated by the need to improve the efficiency and stability of anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge, a critical process in waste management and renewable energy production. The effects at doses less than 2 mg/g VS were not substantial, but 3-7 mg/g VS improved the performance. The maximum biogas yield was 232 mL/g VS (at a dose of 7 mg/g VS ), whereas it was 132 mL/gVS in the control (zero dose). Similarly, the reductions in the volatile solids and methane contents reached maxima of 16 and 74.3%, respectively. The analyses of volatile fatty acids, redox potential, and electron transfer system activity indicated that the addition of CoNPs stimulated the early stages of AD. Finally, acetate consumption and the increase in CH 4 content suggested that CoNPs positively affected system stability and acetoclastic methanogenesis. That is, CoNPs effectively intensified the behaviour and stability of the anaerobic process. The novelty of this research lies in the comprehensive evaluation of the effects of CoNPs across a wide range of doses on sewage sludge AD, providing new insights into the optimisation of this process for increased biogas production and organic matter reduction.

Maternal effects in cattle genetics are defined as the causal influence of the phenotype or maternal genotype on the offspring's phenotype by effects occurring when the genetic and environmental characteristics of the mother influence the phenotype of the offspring beyond the direct inheritance of genes. Its relevance has been strongly described in genetic models focused on the genetic improvement of preweaning traits in cow-calf beef cattle production systems. Here, basic concepts and the importance of maternal effects when using linear and animal model procedures for genetic evaluations of growth and live-weight traits in beef cattle are reviewed and discussed. A brief history of estimation methods from classical studies to recent studies used for the development of animal models for studying maternal effects is also provided. Some important biometric concepts for maternal effect estimation are described, and the antagonism between direct genetic effects and maternal effects, its biological basis, and sources of error in the estimation of direct genetic and maternal covariance are discussed. Finally, some genomic perspectives are presented., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is an ongoing public health crisis in Mexico, particularly in states bordering the United States. The national highest incidence and mortality of RMSF occur in this region, resulting in a case-fatality rate that ranges annually between 10% and 50%, primarily affecting vulnerable groups such as children, elderly adults, and persons living in poverty. Multiple biological, environmental, and social determinants can explain its growing presence throughout the country and how it challenges the health system and society. It is necessary to integrate resources and capacities from health authorities, research centers, and society to succeed in dealing with this problem. Through a scientific symposium, a group of academicians, U.S. health officials, and Mexican health authorities met on November 8-10, 2023, in Hermosillo, Mexico, to discuss the current situation of RMSF across the country and the challenges associated with its occurrence. An urgent call for action to improve national capacity against RMSF in the aspects of epidemiological and acarological surveillance, diagnosis, medical care, case and outbreak prevention, health promotion, and research was urged by the experts. The One Health approach is a proven multidisciplinary strategy to integrate policies and interventions to mitigate and prevent the burden of cases, deaths, and suffering caused by RMSF in Mexico.

Differences of sex development (DSDs) are a heterogeneous group of congenital conditions in which chromosomal, gonadal, or anatomical sex does not match. The broad spectrum of phenotypes associated with DSDs requires accurate diagnosis, which influences the care and quality of life of affected patients. The decreasing costs of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and international research collaborations in rare diseases have allowed the identification of new genes associated with DSDs. Recently, Hughes et al. in 2020 reported the association of loss-of-function (LoF) variants in PPP1R12A with morphological anomalies of the midline, including holoprosencephaly and urogenital malformations, also known as genitourinary and/or brain malformation syndrome (OMIM #618820). In this report, we describe a Mexican individual with hypertelorism, multiple skin hemangiomas, testicular atrophy, and sex reversal, in whom a c.1880delC frameshift variant in PPP1R12A was detected by exome sequencing. Segregation analysis confirmed it as a de novo variant through Sanger sequencing. The main objective of this report is to expand PPP1R12A-related urogenital and/or brain malformation syndrome., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

This work describes a first attempt of palindromic design for dual compounds that act simultaneously on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and G-protein-coupled receptor 40 (GPR40) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The compounds were synthesized by multi-step chemical reactions and the relative mRNA expression levels of PPARγ, GPR40, and GLUT-4 were measured in cultured C2 C12 muscle cells and RIN-m5 f β-pancreatic cells. In addition, insulin secretion and GLUT-4 translocation were measured. Compound 2 displayed a moderate increase in the mRNA expression of PPARγ and GPR40. However, the translocation of the GLUT-4 transporter was 400 % with a similar effect to pioglitazone. The in vivo effect of compound 2 was determined at 25 mg/kg single dose using a normoglycemic and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) rat models. Compound 2 showed basal plasma glucose in diabetic rats with feed intake, which is associated with the moderate release of insulin measured in cells. Surprisingly, the glucose does not decrease in normoglycemic rats. Compound 2 maintained significant interactions with the GPR40 and PPARγ receptors during molecular dynamics. Altogether, the results demonstrate that compound 2, with a palindromic design, simultaneously activates PPARγ and GPR40 receptors without inducing hypoglycemia., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The release of nickel "Ni(II)" into aquatic environments is of great concern because of environmental and health issues. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are one of the most promising technologies for removing heavy metals from water. In this work, an octahedral Co-based MOF (Co-MOF) was synthesized with a high Ni(II) removal capacity (q max of 1534.09 ± 45.49 mg g -1 ) in aqueous media. For the first time, the effect of Co-MOF alone and in co-exposure with Ni(II) on nitrifying microbial consortium was assessed using dynamic microrespirometry. A single concentration of Co-MOF had no significant effects on nitrifying microbial consortium, while the concentration of Ni(II) exerted non-competitive inhibition on the nitrifying microbial consortium with an IC 50 of 1.67 ± 0.03 mg L -1 . In addition, the theoretical speciation analysis showed a decrease of 40% of IC 50 when the free Ni(II) concentration was considered. Co-exposure of Co-MOF and Ni(II) during the nitrifying process allowed us to conclude that Co-MOF is an effective adsorbent for Ni(II) and can be used to mitigate the inhibitory effects of nickel on nitrifying microbial consortia, which is crucial for maintaining the good operation of wastewater treatment and balance of nitrogen cycle., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

This study addresses the morphological and chemical characterization of PGS scaffolds after (6, 12, 18, 24, and 30 min) residence in undoped pyrrole plasma (PGS-PPy) and the evaluation of cell viability with human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). The results were compared with a previous study that used iodine-doped pyrrole (PGS-PPy/I). Analyses through SEM and AFM revealed alterations in the topography and quantity of deposited PPy particles. FTIR spectra of PGS-PPy scaffolds confirmed the presence of characteristic absorption peaks of PPy, with higher intensities observed in the nitrile and -C≡C- groups compared to PGS-PPy/I scaffolds, while raman spectra indicated a lower presence of polaron N + groups. On the other hand, PGS scaffolds modified with PPy exhibited lower cytotoxicity compared to PGS-PPy/I scaffolds, as evidenced by the Live/Dead assay. Furthermore, the PGS-PPy scaffolds at 6 and 12 min, and particularly the PGS-PPy/I scaffold at 6 min, showed the best results in terms of cell viability by the fifth day of culture. The findings of this study suggest that undoped pyrrole plasma modification for short durations could also be a viable option to enhance the interaction with hDPSCs, especially when the treatment times range between 6 min and 12 min., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Multifunctional peptides derived from various food sources, including ancestral grains, hold significant promise for managing metabolic syndrome. These bioactive peptides exhibit diverse properties that collectively contribute to improving the components of metabolic syndrome. In this study, we investigated the in vitro multifunctionality of six peptides (PW, PM, SW, PPG, PW, and IW) identified through in silico analysis and chemically synthesized. These peptides were evaluated for their potential to address metabolic syndrome-related activities such as antidiabetic, antiobesity, antihypertensive, and antioxidative properties. Assessment included their capacity to inhibit key enzymes associated with these activities, as well as their free radical scavenging and cellular antioxidative activities. Principal component analysis was employed to cluster the peptides according to their multifunctionality. Our results revealed that peptides containing tryptophan (SW, PW, and IW) exhibited the most promising multifunctional attributes, with SW showing particularly high potential. This multifunctional peptide represents a promising avenue for addressing metabolic syndrome., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Cancer prevails as one of the major health concerns worldwide due to the consistent rise in incidence and lack of effective therapies. Previous studies identified the peptides KLKKNL, MLKSKR, and KKYRVF from Salvia hispanica seeds and stated their selective anticancer activity. Thus, this study aimed to determine the cell death pathway induced by these peptides on five cancer cell lines (MCF-7, Caco2, HepG2, DU145, and HeLa). Based on the results of this work, it is possible to suggest that KLKKNL primarily induces selective cancer cell death through the apoptotic pathway in the Caco2 and HeLa lines. On the other hand, the peptide KKYRVF reported the highest statistical (p < 0.05) selective cytotoxic effect on the MCF-7, Caco2, HepG2, and DU145 cancer cell lines by induction of the necrotic pathway. These findings offer some understanding of the selective anticancer effect of KLKKNL, MLKSKR, and KKYRVF., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this observational study, our aim was to analyse the association between pre-pregnancy BMI and adequacy rates of energy and macronutrient intakes in a sample of pregnant women from Yucatan, Mexico. From September to December 2019, we collected data on socioeconomic, pregnancy, and dietary characteristics, and took anthropometric measurements of women during household visits. Pre-pregnancy BMI was calculated from measured height and self-reported body weight. Energy and macronutrient intakes (obtained from three 24-h dietary recalls) were compared with the estimated trimester-specific requirements to calculate adequacies (%). Multiple linear regression models showed that after accounting for maternal socioeconomic characteristics and perinatal variables, each unit increase in pre-pregnancy BMI was associated with decreases of 2%, 2%, and 2.6% in energy, carbohydrate, and total fat intakes, respectively. These results were significant when under- and over-reporters were excluded from the analyses. Women who enter pregnancy with higher BMI values may voluntarily or involuntarily reduce their food intake.IMPACT STATEMENT What is already know about this subject? Some studies have analysed the relationship between pre-pregnancy BMI categories (normal weight, overweight, and obesity) and diet quality during pregnancy, but few studies have focussed on quantitative energy and macronutrient intakes or their adequacies in relation to pre-pregnancy BMI. What do the results of this study contribute? In this sample of Mexican women belonging to a middle socioeconomic status, we found that after excluding under- and over-reporters from the analyses and accounting for maternal socioeconomic characteristics and perinatal variables, BMI was negatively associated with adequacy intake rates of energy, carbohydrates, and total fats during pregnancy. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Women who enter pregnancy with higher BMI values may voluntarily or involuntarily reduce their food intake. These results can be used to accordingly plan diet counselling during pregnancy.

In this study, thermoplastic starch (TPS) biofilms were developed using starch isolated from the seeds of Melicoccus bijugatus (huaya) and reinforced with bentonite clays at concentrations of 1%, 3%, and 5% by weight. Novelty of this research lies in utilizing a non-conventional starch source and enhancing properties of TPS through clay reinforcement. FTIR analysis verified bentonite's nature of clays, while SEM analysis provided insights into morphology and agglomeration behavior. Key findings include a notable increase in biofilm thickness and elastic modulus with higher clay content. Specifically, tensile strength of biofilms improved from 2.5 MPa for pure TPS to 5.0 MPa with 5% clay reinforcement. The elastic modulus increased from 25 MPa (TPS) to 60 MPa (5% clay). Thermal stability also showed enhancement, with initial degradation temperature increasing from 110 °C for pure TPS to 130 °C for TPS with 5% clay. Water vapor permeability (WVP) tests demonstrated a decrease in WVP values from 4.11 × 10 -10  g m -1  s -1  Pa -1 for pure TPS to 2.09 × 10 -10  g m -1  s -1 ·Pa -1 for TPS with 5% clay, indicating a significant barrier effect due to clay dispersion. These results suggest that biofilms based on huaya starch and reinforced with bentonite clay have considerable potential for sustainable food packaging applications, offering enhanced mechanical and barrier properties., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Indoor residual spraying (IRS) is one of the most effective malaria control tools. However, its application has become limited to specific contexts due to the increased costs of IRS products and implementation programmes. Selective spraying-selective spray targeted to particular areas/surfaces of dwellings-has been proposed to maintain the malaria control and resistance-management benefits of IRS while decreasing the costs of the intervention., Methods: A literature search was conducted to find (1) studies that assessed the resting behaviour of Anopheles mosquitoes and (2) studies that evaluated the impact of selective spraying on entomological and malaria outcomes. Additional articles were identified through hand searches of all references cited in articles identified through the initial search. A cost model was developed from PMI VectorLink IRS country programmes, and comparative cost analysis reports to describe the overall cost benefits of selective IRS., Results: In some studies, there appeared to be a clear resting preference for certain Anopheles species in terms of the height at which they rested. However, for other species, and particularly the major African malaria vectors, a clear resting pattern was not detected. Furthermore, resting behaviour was not measured in a standardized way. For the selective spray studies that were assessed, there was a wide range of spray configurations, which complicates the comparison of methods. Many of these spray techniques were effective and resulted in reported 25-68% cost savings and reduced use of insecticide. The reported cost savings in the literature do not always consider all of the IRS implementation costs. Using the IRS cost model, these savings ranged from 17 to 29% for programs that targeted Anopheles spp. and 18-41% for programmes that targeted Aedes aegypti., Conclusions: Resting behaviour is generally measured in a simplistic way; noting the resting spot of mosquitoes in the morning. This is likely an oversimplification, and there is a need for better monitoring of resting mosquitoes. This may improve the target surface for selective spray techniques, which could reduce the cost of IRS while maintaining its effectiveness. Reporting of cost savings should be calculated considering the entire implementation costs, and a cost model was provided for future calculations., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Protein-derived peptide fractions can play a key role in the physiological and metabolic regulation and modulation of the body, which suggests that they could be used as functional ingredients to improve health and to reduce the risk of disease. This work aimed to evaluate the in vitro antithrombotic and anticariogenic bioactivity of hydrolysates and protein fractions obtained from cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) by biocatalysis., Results: Cowpea protein concentrate was hydrolyzed by sequential action with two enzyme systems, Pepsin-Pancreatin or Alcalase-Flavourzyme. There was extensive enzymatic hydrolysis, with degrees of hydrolysis of 34.94% and 81.43% for Pepsin-Pancreatin and Alcalase-Flavourzyme, respectively. The degree of hydrolysis for the control treatments, without the addition of the enzymes Pepsin-Pancreatin and Alcalase-Flavourzyme was 1.1% and 1.2%, respectively. The hydrolysates were subjected to fractionation by ultrafiltration, with five cut-off points according to molecular weight (<1, 1-3, 3-5, 5-10 and >10 kDa). The Alcalase-Flavourzyme hydrolysate led to 100% inhibition of platelet aggregation, while the Pepsin-Pancreatin hydrolysate showed 77.41% inhibition, but this was approximately 100% in the ultrafiltered fractions. The highest anticariogenic activity was obtained with the Pepsin-Pancreatin system, with 61.55% and 56.07% for calcium and phosphorus demineralization, respectively., Conclusion: Hydrolysates and their peptide fractions from Vigna unguiculata exhibited inhibition of platelet aggregation and protection of tooth enamel and have the potential for use in the development of functional products with beneficial health effects. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.)

The monthly fluctuation of adult Ixodes keiransi in dogs from two cattle farms in southeastern Mexico was determined. In ranch 1 (R1), 6-7 mixed breed dogs from six months to five years of age; while in ranch 2 (R2), 7-8 mixed breed dogs from one to four years of age, were followed. All dogs were monthly inspected for tick infestation through one year. The abundance of dogs infested with ticks was estimated for each month. Tick specimens were taxonomically identified as I. keiransi using morphological features. In R1 the dogs were inspected 60 times and in R2 90 times. The overall proportion of dogs infested by ticks through the year was 75% (60/80) in R1 and 67% (67/90) in R2. The higher abundance of adult I. keiransi parasitizing dogs was from July to December with maximum peaks from September to November. In April, May and June, no ticks were observed on dogs from both ranches. Tick abundance fluctuation showed a concordant pattern with rainfall but with a delay because de maximum peak of I. keiransi abundance was almost two months after the greatest rainfall peak. It is concluded that, in some conditions, the adult I. keiransi in southeastern Mexico presents high-infested rates on dogs and a maximum abundance from September to November. The I. keiransi abundance fluctuation showed a concordant pattern with rainfall., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The ecological effects of plant diversity have been well studied, but the extent to which they are driven by variation in specialized metabolites is not well understood. Here, we provide theoretical background on phytochemical diversity effects on herbivory and its expanded consequences for higher trophic levels. We then review empirical evidence for effects on predation and parasitism by focusing on a handful of studies that have undertaken manipulative approaches and link back their results to theory on mechanisms. We close by summarizing key aspects for future research, building on knowledge gained thus far., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Conventional cancer therapies are not selective to cancer cells resulting in serious side effects on patients. Thus, the need for complementary treatments that improve the patient's response to cancer therapy is highly important. To predict and evaluate the physicochemical characteristics and potential anticancer activity of the peptides identified from S. hispanica protein fraction <1 kDa through the use of in silico tools. Peptides derived from Salvia hispanica 's protein fraction <1 kDa were identified and analyzed for the prediction of their physicochemical properties. The characterized peptide sequences were then submitted to a multi-criteria decision analysis to identify the peptides that possess the characteristics to potentially exert anticancer activity. Through molecular docking analysis, the potential anticancer activity of the Potentially Anticancer Peptide (PAP)-1, PAP-2, PAP-3, PAP-4, and PAP-5 was estimated by their binding interactions with cancer and apoptosis-related molecules. All five evaluated PAPs exhibited strong binding interactions (< -100 kcal/mol). However, PAP-3 showed the lowest binding free energies with several of the targets. Thus, PAP-3 shows potential to be used as a nutraceutical or ingredient for functional foods that adjuvate in cancer treatment. Conclusions: Through the molecular docking studies, the binding of the PAPs to target molecules of interest for cancer treatment was successfully simulated, from which PAP-3 exhibited the lowest binding free energies. Further in vitro and in vivo studies are required to validate the predictions obtained by the in silico analysis.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Main Conclusion: Ants, but not mycorrhizae, significantly affected insect leaf-chewing herbivory on potato plants. However, there was no evidence of mutualistic interactive effects on herbivory. Plants associate with both aboveground and belowground mutualists, two prominent examples being ants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), respectively. While both of these mutualisms have been extensively studied, joint manipulations testing their independent and interactive (non-additive) effects on plants are rare. To address this gap, we conducted a joint test of ant and AMF effects on herbivory by leaf-chewing insects attacking potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants, and further measured plant traits likely mediating mutualist effects on herbivory. In a field experiment, we factorially manipulated the presence of AMF (two levels: control and mycorrhization) and ants (two levels: exclusion and presence) and quantified the concentration of leaf phenolic compounds acting as direct defenses, as well as plant volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions potentially mediating direct (e.g., herbivore repellents) or indirect (e.g., ant attractants) defense. Moreover, we measured ant abundance and performed a dual-choice greenhouse experiment testing for effects of VOC blends (mimicking those emitted by control vs. AMF-inoculated plants) on ant attraction as a mechanism for indirect defense. Ant presence significantly reduced herbivory whereas mycorrhization had no detectable influence on herbivory and mutualist effects operated independently. Plant trait measurements indicated that mycorrhization had no effect on leaf phenolics but significantly increased VOC emissions. However, mycorrhization did not affect ant abundance and there was no evidence of AMF effects on herbivory operating via ant-mediated defense. Consistently, the dual-choice assay showed no effect of AMF-induced volatile blends on ant attraction. Together, these results suggest that herbivory on potato plants responds mainly to top-down (ant-mediated) rather than bottom-up (AMF-mediated) control, an asymmetry in effects which could have precluded mutualist non-additive effects on herbivory. Further research on this, as well as other plant systems, is needed to examine the ecological contexts under which mutualist interactive effects are more or less likely to emerge and their impacts on plant fitness and associated communities., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Focal Epithelial Hyperplasia or Multifocal Epithelial Hyperplasia (MEH), also known as Heck's disease, is considered a rare pathology of the oral mucosa associated with human papillomavirus types 13 and 32. For reasons not fully understood, MEH disproportionally affects specific populations of indigenous groups around the world. After the first reports in Native Americans, the epidemiology of the disease has been described in different geographical regions mainly related to particular indigenous populations, the majority of the studies are clinical case reports, but the biological determinants are still unknown. Some suggested risk factors include chronic irritation caused by smoking, a galvanic current, vitamin A deficiency, and/or a familial-genetic predisposition; however, the scientific evidence is not solid due the scarcity of case-control studies or longitudinal cohorts. In light of the evidence, further study of the pathology of MEH should be considered and proper clinical trials for effective treatments should be designed. The disease warrants further study as it is considered as neglected by research and it affects rural/remote population groups usually living in adverse socioeconomic conditions., Competing Interests: The authors declare that this work was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Conde-Ferráez and González-Losa.)

Introduction: Acute undifferentiated febrile illnesses (AUFIs) impose a large burden in the tropics. Understanding of AUFI's epidemiology is limited. Insufficient diagnostic capacity hinders the detection of outbreaks. The lack of interconnection in healthcare systems hinders timely response. We describe a protocol to study the epidemiology and aetiologies of AUFI and pathogen discovery in strategic areas of Latin America (LA)., Methods and Analysis: Global Infectious Diseases Network investigators comprising institutions in Colombia, Dominican Republic, México, Perú and the USA, developed a common cohort study protocol. The primary objective is to determine the aetiologies of AUFI at healthcare facilities in high-risk areas. Data collection and laboratory testing for viral, bacterial and parasitic agents are performed in rural and urban healthcare facilities and partner laboratories. Centralised laboratory and data management cores deploy diagnostic tests and data management tools. Subjects >6 years with fever for <8 days without localised infection are included in the cohort. They are evaluated during the acute and convalescent phases of illness. Study personnel collect clinical and epidemiological information. Blood, urine, nasal or pharyngeal swabs and saliva are collected in the acute phase and blood in convalescent phase. Specimens are banked at -80°C. Malaria, dengue and COVID-19 are tested onsite in the acute phase. The acute-phase serum is PCR tested for dengue, chikungunya, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, Mayaro, Oropouche, Zika, and yellow fever viruses. Paired convalescent and acute serum antibody titters are tested for arbovirus, Leptospira spp, and Rickettsia spp. Serum is used for viral cultures and next-generation sequencing for pathogen discovery. Analysis includes variable distributions, risk factors and regression models. Laboratory results are shared with health authorities and network members., Ethics and Dissemination: The protocol was approved by local ethics committees and health authorities. The results will be published in peer-reviewed journals. All study results are shared with local and regional health authorities., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Biting midges ( Culicoides ) are vectors of many pathogens of medical and veterinary importance, but their viromes are poorly characterized compared to certain other hematophagous arthropods, e.g., mosquitoes and ticks. The goal of this study was to use metagenomics to identify viruses in Culicoides from Mexico. A total of 457 adult midges were collected in Chihuahua, northern Mexico, in 2020 and 2021, and all were identified as female Culicoides reevesi . The midges were sorted into five pools and homogenized. An aliquot of each homogenate was subjected to polyethylene glycol precipitation to enrich for virions, then total RNA was extracted and analyzed by unbiased high-throughput sequencing. We identified six novel viruses that are characteristic of viruses from five families ( Nodaviridae , Partitiviridae , Solemoviridae , Tombusviridae, and Totiviridae ) and one novel virus that is too divergent from all classified viruses to be assigned to an established family. The newly discovered viruses are phylogenetically distinct from their closest known relatives, and their minimal infection rates in female C. reevesi range from 0.22 to 1.09. No previously known viruses were detected, presumably because viral metagenomics had never before been used to study Culicoides from the Western Hemisphere. To conclude, we discovered multiple novel viruses in C. reevesi from Mexico, expanding our knowledge of arthropod viral diversity and evolution.

Ehrlichia chaffeensis is a bacterium belonging to the Anaplasmataceae family. In Mexico, only 2 species have been recorded in association with tick species and humans. The objective of the present study was to detect the presence of bacteria of the genus Ehrlichia in ticks collected from the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve, Jalisco, Mexico. The collected ticks were identified and analyzed individually by polymerase chain reaction to amplify a fragment of the Anaplasmataceae 16S rRNA gene and the Ehrlichia-specific dsb gene. A total of 204 ticks, corresponding to 5 species of Ixodidae and 1 of Argasidae, were collected from 147 mammals of 6 species and 4 orders; 57 ticks collected from vegetation were also included. Among the total ticks collected, 1.47% (3/204) was positive for Ehrlichia sp. DNA was obtained using the primers EHR 16SD and EHR 16SR for 16S rRNA and DSB-330 and DSB-728 for dsb. The positive samples corresponded to a larva (Amblyomma sp.) associated with Didelphis virginiana and 2 nymphs (Amblyomma cf. oblongoguttatum) infesting Nasua narica. None of the ticks collected from the vegetation tested positive for Ehrlichia sp. DNA on the basis of the 16S rRNA and dsb genes. The sequences from the larvae of Amblyomma sp. and the nymphs of A. cf. oblongoguttatum were similar to those of E. chaffeensis. The phylogenetic analysis inferred with maximum likelihood corroborated the identity as E. chaffeensis. Although the role of these tick species as vectors of E. chaffeensis is still undetermined, the presence of infected ticks in the area indicates a potential zoonotic risk., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America.)

This study aimed to determine the feasibility of applying machine-learning methods to assess the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and acute renal injury (AKI). The study was conducted on patients aged 18 years or older who were diagnosed with COVID-19 and AKI between April 2020 and March 2021, and admitted to a second-level hospital in Mérida, Yucatán, México. Of the admitted patients, 47.92% died and 52.06% were discharged. Among the discharged patients, 176 developed AKI during hospitalization, and 131 agreed to participate in the study. The study's results indicated that the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC) for the four models was 0.826 for the support vector machine (SVM), 0.828 for the random forest, 0.840 for the logistic regression, and 0.841 for the boosting model. Variable selection methods were utilized to enhance the performance of the classifier, with the SVM model demonstrating the best overall performance, achieving a classification rate of 99.8% ± 0.1 in the training set and 98.43% ± 1.79 in the validation set in AUC-ROC values. These findings have the potential to aid in the early detection and management of CKD, a complication of AKI resulting from COVID-19. Further research is required to confirm these results.

This guideline is aimed at those who are involved in the assessment of anthelmintic efficacy in ruminant livestock species (bovine, ovine and caprine). The intent is to provide a framework that can be adopted worldwide for the testing of anthelmintics in ruminants, such that studies carried out in different countries can be compared and thereby unnecessary duplication can be reduced. Recommendations are made for the selection, housing and feeding of study animals, the type of studies required, the method used to conduct those studies, the assessment of results and the standards for defining anthelmintic efficacy., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this guideline., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a serious health problem, and its prevalence is expected to increase worldwide in the years ahead. Cruciferous vegetables such as Brassica oleracea var. capitata L. (green cabbage) and Raphanus sativus L. (radish) have therapeutic properties that can be used to support the treatment of T2D. This study evaluated the effect of B. oleracea (BAE) and R. sativus (RAE) aqueous extracts on zoometric parameters, glycemic profiles, and pancreas and liver in prediabetic rats induced by a high-sucrose diet (HSD). BAE and RAE were administered to male HSD-induced Wistar rats ( n = 35) at 5 and 10 mg/kg doses for 5 weeks. Zoometric and biochemical changes were measured, and then the pancreas and liver histological preparations were analyzed to observe the protective effect. BAE decreased feed intake and weight gain. Both extracts decreased fasting glucose and insulin levels compared with control (not treated), although not significantly ( P > .05). The extracts significantly ( P < .05) reduced homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance, homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function, and glucose intolerance, similar to metformin control. In addition, minor damage occurred in the pancreas and liver. The results indicated that BAE and RAE decreased weight gain, improved glucose regulation, and protected the pancreas and liver in HSD rats. Therefore, they have multiple therapeutical properties and may be helpful in the prevention of T2D.

Premise: Evolution of cross-pollination efficiency depends on the genetic variation of flower traits, the pollen vector, and flower trait matching between pollen donors and recipients. Trait matching has been almost unexplored among nonheterostylous species, and we examined whether the match of anther length in pollen donors and stigma length in pollen recipients influences the efficiency of cross-pollination. To explore potential constraints for evolutionary response, we also quantified genetic variation and covariation among sepal length, petal length and width, stamen length, style length, and herkogamy., Methods: We created 58 experimental arrays of Turnera velutina that varied in the extent of mismatch in the position of anthers and stigmas between single-flowered plants. Genetic variation and correlations among flower traits were estimated under greenhouse conditions., Results: Style length, but not herkogamy, influenced the efficiency of cross-pollination. Plants with stamen length that matched the style length of other plants were more efficient pollen donors, whereas those with the style protruding above the stamens of other plants were more efficient pollen recipients. Significant broad-sense heritability (0.22 > h B 2  < 0.42) and moderate genetic correlations (0.33 > r < 0.85) among floral traits were detected., Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that anther-stigma mismatch between flowers contributed to variation in the efficiency of cross-pollination. The genetic correlations between stamen length and other floral traits suggests that any change in cross-pollination efficiency would be driven by changes in style rather than in stamen length., (© 2024 The Author(s). American Journal of Botany published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Botanical Society of America.)

The variability in the expression of different P-glycoprotein (P-gp) genes in parasitic nematodes of ruminants such as Haemonchus contortus (Hco-pgp) may be caused by different factors including nematode biology, geographical region and anthelmintic pressure. This study analysed the relative expression level of 10 P-gp genes in two H. contortus (Hco-pgp) field isolates from Yucatan, Mexico: 1) PARAISO (IVM-resistant) and 2) FMVZ-UADY (IVM-susceptible). These isolates were compared with a susceptible reference isolate from Puebla, Mexico, namely "CENID-SAI". In all cases H. contortus adult males were used. The Hco-pgp genes (1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 16) were analysed for each isolate using the RT-qPCR technique. The Hco-pgp expressions were pairwise compared using the 2 -ΔΔCt method and a t-test. The PARAISO isolate showed upregulation compared to the CENID-SAI isolate for Hco-pgp 1, 3, 9, 10 and 16 (P < 0.05), and the PARAISO isolate showed upregulation vs. FMVZ-UADY isolate for Hco-pgp 2 and 9 (P < 0.05), displaying 6.58- and 5.93-fold differences (P < 0.05), respectively. In contrast, similar Hco-pgp gene expression levels were recorded for FMVZ-UADY and CENID-SAI isolates except for Hco-pgp1 (P <0.1), which presented a significant upregulation (6.08-fold). The relative expression of Hco-pgp allowed confirming the IVM-resistant status of the PARAISO isolate and the IVM-susceptible status of the FMVZ-UADY isolate when compared to the CENID-SAI reference isolate. Therefore, understanding the association between the Hco-pgp genes expression of H. contortus and its IVM resistance status could help identifying the genes that could be used as molecular markers in the diagnosis of IVM resistance. However, it is important to consider the geographic origin of the nematode isolate and the deworming history at the farm of origin., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Authors have no potential conflict of interest pertaining to this submission., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Pregnancy-associated atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (P-aHUS) is a rare disease. There are only few reports in the literature, and most are in the puerperium period. It is a thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) characterized for microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and renal dysfunction. We report the case of a pregnant patient at 26.3 gestation weeks, who developed clinical features of TMA, neurological alterations, and septic shock; then after fetus and placental delivery, no clinical improvement was observed; a diagnostic protocol was performed due to suspicion of P-aHUS, showing improvement after the plasma exchange sessions and eculizumab. We present here a brief review of the case since it is an entity that needs to be suspected during pregnancy when TMA features and requires an immediate diagnosis to provide timely treatment., (© 2024 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

The most widely used class of antivirals available for Influenza treatment are the neuraminidase inhibitors (NAI) Oseltamivir and Zanamivir. However, amino acid (AA) substitutions in the neuraminidase may cause reduced inhibition or high antiviral resistance. In Mexico, the current state of knowledge about NAI susceptibility is scarce, in this study we report the results of 14 years of Influenza surveillance by phenotypic and genotypic methods. A total of 255 isolates were assessed with the NAI assay, including Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2) and Influenza B (IBV). Furthermore, 827 sequences contained in the GISAID platform were analyzed in search of relevant mutations.Overall, five isolates showed highly reduced inhibition or reduced inhibition to Oseltamivir, and two showed reduced inhibition to Zanamivir in the NAI assays. Additionally, five A(H1N1)pdm09 sequences from the GISAID possessed AA substitutions associated to reduced inhibition to Oseltamivir and none to Zanamivir. Oseltamivir resistant A(H1N1)pdm09 harbored the H275Y mutation. No genetic mutations were identified in Influenza A(H3N2) and IBV. Overall, these results show that in Mexico the rate of NAI resistance is low (0.6%), but it is essential to continue the Influenza surveillance in order to understand the drug susceptibility of circulating strains., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Climate change and land use change are two main drivers of global biodiversity decline, decreasing the genetic diversity that populations harbour and altering patterns of local adaptation. Landscape genomics allows measuring the effect of these anthropogenic disturbances on the adaptation of populations. However, both factors have rarely been considered simultaneously. Based on a set of 3660 SNPs from which 130 were identified as outliers by a genome-environment association analysis (LFMM), we modelled the spatial turnover of allele frequencies in 19 localities of Pinus leiophylla across the Avocado Belt in Michoacán state, Mexico. Then, we evaluated the effect of climate change and land use change scenarios, in addition to evaluating assisted gene flow strategies and connectivity metrics across the landscape to identify priority conservation areas for the species. We found that localities in the centre-east of the Avocado Belt would be more vulnerable to climate change, while localities in the western area are more threatened by land conversion to avocado orchards. Assisted gene flow actions could aid in mitigating both threats. Connectivity patterns among forest patches will also be modified by future habitat loss, with central and eastern parts of the Avocado Belt maintaining the highest connectivity. These results suggest that areas with the highest priority for conservation are in the eastern part of the Avocado Belt, including the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. This work is useful as a framework that incorporates distinct layers of information to provide a more robust representation of the response of tree populations to anthropogenic disturbances., (© 2024 The Author(s). Molecular Ecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Inflammatory conditions are among the principal causes of morbidity worldwide, and their treatment continues to be a challenge, given the restricted availability of effective and safe drugs. Thus, the identification of new compounds with biological activity that can be used for the treatment of inflammatory disorders is an essential field in medical and health research, in order to improve the health and quality of life of patients suffering from these diseases. Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity of drugs requires the implementation of models that accurately depict the biochemical and/or physiological responses that characterize human inflammation; for this reason, several in vitro and in vivo models have been developed, providing a platform for discovering novel or repurposed compounds. For this reason, in the present review we have selected twelve commonly used models for the evaluation of the anti-inflammatory effect, and extensively describes the difference between in vivo and in vitro models of inflammation, highlighting their advantages and limitations. On the other hand, the inflammatory mechanisms involved in them, the methods employed for their establishment, and the different parameters assessed to determine the anti-inflammatory activity of a given compound are extensively discussed. We expect to provide a comprehensive guide for the improved selection of a suitable model for the preclinical evaluation of plausible anti-inflammatory agents., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

We aimed to characterize the echocardiographic alterations in dogs from an endemic region that were naturally infected with T. cruzi . Dogs (n = 130) seropositive for antibodies against T. cruzi and/or with acute parasitemia were enrolled in the study. Indicators of changes in the structure and systolic and diastolic functions of the left ventricle (LV) and blood flow patterns were evaluated by echocardiography. The frequency and extent of alterations in these indicators were associated with the severity of the disease. Briefly, 15 (11.54%) dogs were diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and 115 (88.46%) dogs were diagnosed as being without DCM. Infected dogs with DCM exhibited structural features of LV dysfunction, e.g., a significant ( p < 0.05) increase in the LV internal diameter at systole and diastole (LVID-s, LVID-d) and a decline in the LV posterior wall (LVPW-d) thickness at diastole. Despite an increase in stroke volume and cardiac output indicating contraction force, DCM resulted in a decreased ejection fraction, affecting systolic function. Dogs that were diagnosed as DCM-negative but were positive for T. cruzi by PCR exhibited a high frequency of an increase in the thickness of the interventricular septum in systole (IVS-s) and the LV posterior wall in diastole (LVPW-d), a decline in the LV inner diameter (LVID-d, LVID-s), and fractional shortening (FS). The thinning of the LVPW at systole was the most defining feature observed in chronically infected dogs. In summary, this is the first study reporting the echocardiographic changes occurring in dogs naturally infected with T. cruzi and developing DCM. Our data suggest that changes in LVID are a major indicator of risk of cardiac involvement, and the observation of changes in the IVS, LVPW, and FS have predictive value in determining the risk of DCM development in infected dogs.