Phylogenetics, morpohology, and genomic evolution in Physarieae (Brassicaceae)

The mustard family (Brassicaceae) is economically important but the evolution of its morphology is not well understood. I investigate the evolution of morphological and genomic characters and calculate ancestral trait values in the Brassicaceae within a phylogenetic context using the tribe Physarieae as a model system. Physarieae are a unique and diverse group of American mustards characterized by multi-aperturate pollen. Phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences (chloroplast ndhF and nuclear ITS and LUMINIDEPENDENS) were used to test the monophyly and explore evolutionary relationships of Physarieae. The phylogenetic inferences were used to identify morphological traits to delimit the tribe, to interpret the evolution of selected morphological and genomic characters, and to test alternative hypotheses related to the covariation of traits. Results show that Physarieae are monophyletic and most closely related to three tribes (Halimolobeae, Boechereae, Camelineae) based on analyses of parsimony, likelihood, and Bayesian analyses. Two well-supported monophyletic clades in the tribe are recovered: the DDNLS clade, including Dithyrea, Dimorphocarpa, Nerisyrenia, Lyrocarpa, and Synthlipsis, and the PP clade, comprising Paysonia and Physaria. Character optimization of discrete and continuous morphological data suggest that enlarged fruits and replums, wide seeds, and long fruiting styles are potential synapomorphies of Physariae, whereas traits related to fruits, seed, trichomes, and pollen are useful to distinguish groups and genera within the tribe

Estudio palinológico del género Macroptilium (Benth.) Urb. (Leguminosae) en México y Centroamérica

The pollen morphology of eight Macroptilium species occurring in Mexico and Central America is described by means of light and scanning microscopy. In this region, members of the genus have pollen grains 3-colporate, medium-sized, with polar shapes from prolate-spheroidal, suboblate to oblate-spheroidal. Differences in ectoaperture (length, apex shape and membrane), ornamentation, margo, and the outline in polar side identify two pollen types: Type I. Pollen with small colpi (brevicolpate), margo thickened, apex of the ectoaperture round, membrane granular, polar outline convex angular, exine tectate or semitectate, apocolpium punctate or rugulate, and mesocolpium microreticulate or rugulate. Species of section Microcochle, including M. gibbosifolium, M. pedatum, and M. supinum are characterized by this pollen type. Type II. Pollen with long colpi (longicolpate) margo non-thickened, apex of the ectoaperture acute, membrane granular, pollen outline circular to semi-angular, exine tectate or semitectate, apocolpium punctate to foveolate, and mesocolpium microreticulate to foveolate. Species of section Macroptilium comprising, M. atropurpureum, M. erythroloma, M. gracile, M. lathyroides, and M. longipedunculatum are distinguished by this pollen type. Palynological descriptions of five species of Macroptilium are provided for the first time.Se describe la morfología del polen de ocho especies del género Macroptilium con distribución en México y Centroamérica, a partir de granos acetolizados y observados bajo microscopio de luz y microscopio electrónico de barrido. En esta región geográfica los miembros del género tienen granos de polen tricolporados, prolado-esferoidales, suboblados a rara vez oblado-esferoidales, de tamaño generalmente mediano. De acuerdo con las diferencias en las ectoaberturas (longitud, forma del ápice y membrana), ornamentación de la exina, engrosamiento del margo y contorno en vista polar se distinguen dos tipos polínicos: Tipo I. Polen con colpos cortos (brevicolpos), margo engrosado, ápice de la ectoabertura redondeado, membrana granular, contorno angular convexo, exina tectada o semitectada, punctada a rugulada en el apocolpio y microrreticulada a rugulada en el mesocolpio; característico de la sección Microcochle, representada por M. gibbosifolium, M. pedatum y M. supinum. Tipo II. Polen con colpos largos (longicolpos), margo no engrosado, ápice de la ectoabertura agudo, membrana granular, contorno circular a semiangular, exina tectada a semitectada, psilada, punctada, foveolada a microrreticulada en el apocolpio y microrreticulada a foveolada en el mesocolpio; este tipo distingue a las especies de la sección Macroptilium, incluyendo a M. atropurpureum, M. erythroloma, M. gracile, M. lathyroides y M. longipedunculatum. Por primera vez se proveen descripciones palinológicas para cinco especies del género

ESTUDIO PALINOLÓGICO DEL GÉNERO MACROPTILIUM (BENTH.) URB. (LEGUMINOSAE) EN MÉXICO Y CENTROAMÉRICA

Se describe la morfología del polen de ocho especies del género Macroptilium con distribución en México y Centroamérica, a partir de granos acetolizados y observados bajo microscopio de luz y microscopio electrónico de barrido. En esta región geográfica los miembros del género tienen granos de polen tricolporados, prolado-esferoidales, suboblados a rara vez oblado-esferoidales, de tamaño generalmente mediano. De acuerdo con las diferencias en las ectoaberturas (longitud, forma del ápice y membrana), ornamentación de la exina, engrosamiento del margo y contorno en vista polar se distinguen dos tipos polínicos: Tipo I. Polen con colpos cortos (brevicolpos), margo engrosado, ápice de la ectoabertura redondeado, membrana granular, contorno angular convexo, exina tectada o semitectada, punctada a rugulada en el apocolpio y microrreticulada a rugulada en el mesocolpio; característico de la sección Microcochle, representada por M. gibbosifolium, M. pedatum y M. supinum. Tipo II. Polen con colpos largos (longicolpos), margo no engrosado, ápice de la ectoabertura agudo, membrana granular, contorno circular a semiangular, exina tectada a semitectada, psilada, punctada, foveolada a microrreticulada en el apocolpio y microrreticulada a foveolada en el mesocolpio; este tipo distingue a las especies de la sección Macroptilium, incluyendo a M. atropurpureum, M. erythroloma, M. gracile, M. lathyroides y M. longipedunculatum. Por primera vez se proveen descripciones palinológicas para cinco especies del género

Development and Evaluation of an NTM-IGRA to Guide Pediatric Lymphadenitis Diagnosis

Background: Diagnosis of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections remains a challenge. In this study, we describe the evaluation of an immunological NTM-interferon (IFN)-γ release assay (IGRA) that we developed using glycopeptidolipids (GPLs) as NTM-specific antigens. Methods: We tested the NTM-IGRA in 99 samples from pediatric patients. Seventy-five were patients with lymphadenitis: 25 were NTM confirmed, 45 were of unknown etiology but compatible with mycobacterial infection and 5 had lymphadenitis caused by an etiologic agent other than NTM. The remaining 24 samples were from control individuals without lymphadenitis (latently infected with M.Tuberculosis, uninfected controls and active tuberculosis patients). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated overnight with GPLs. Detection of IFN-γ producing cells was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunospot assay. Results: NTM culture-confirmed lymphadenitis patient samples had a significantly higher response to GPLs than the patients with lymphadenitis of unknown etiology but compatible with mycobacterial infection (P < 0.001) and lymphadenitis not caused by NTM (P < 0.01). We analyzed the response against GPLs in samples from unknown etiology lymphadenitis but compatible with mycobacterial infection cases according to the tuberculin skin test (TST) response, and although not statistically significant, those with a TST ≥5 mm had a higher response to GPLs when compared with the TST <5 mm group. Conclusions: Stimulation with GPLs yielded promising results in detecting NTM infection in pediatric patients with lymphadenitis. Our results indicate that the test could be useful to guide the diagnosis of pediatric lymphadenitis. This new NTM-IGRA could improve the clinical handling of NTM-infected patients and avoid unnecessary misdiagnosis and treatments

Izaña Atmospheric Research Center. Activity Report 2019-2020

Editors: Emilio Cuevas, Celia Milford and Oksana Tarasova.[EN]The Izaña Atmospheric Research Center (IARC), which is part of the State Meteorological Agency of Spain (AEMET), is a site of excellence in atmospheric science. It manages four observatories in Tenerife including the high altitude Izaña Atmospheric Observatory. The Izaña Atmospheric Observatory was inaugurated in 1916 and since that date has carried out uninterrupted meteorological and climatological observations, contributing towards a unique 100-year record in 2016. This reports are a summary of the many activities at the Izaña Atmospheric Research Center to the broader community. The combination of operational activities, research and development in state-of-the-art measurement techniques, calibration and validation and international cooperation encompass the vision of WMO to provide world leadership in expertise and international cooperation in weather, climate, hydrology and related environmental issues.[ES]El Centro de Investigación Atmosférica de Izaña (CIAI), que forma parte de la Agencia Estatal de Meteorología de España (AEMET), representa un centro de excelencia en ciencias atmosféricas. Gestiona cuatro observatorios en Tenerife, incluido el Observatorio de Izaña de gran altitud, inaugurado en 1916 y que desde entonces ha realizado observaciones meteorológicas y climatológicas ininterrumpidas y se ha convertido en una estación centenaria de la OMM. Estos informes resumen las múltiples actividades llevadas a cabo por el Centro de Investigación Atmosférica de Izaña. El liderazgo del Centro en materia de investigación y desarrollo con respecto a las técnicas de medición, calibración y validación de última generación, así como la cooperación internacional, le han otorgado una reputación sobresaliente en lo que se refiere al tiempo, el clima, la hidrología y otros temas ambientales afines

Clinical Presentation and Outcomes of Kawasaki Disease in Children from Latin America: A Multicenter Observational Study from the REKAMLATINA Network

Objetivos: Describir la presentación clínica, el manejo y los resultados de la enfermedad de Kawasaki (EK) en Latinoamérica y evaluar los indicadores pronósticos tempranos de aneurisma de la arteria coronaria (AAC). Diseño del estudio: Se realizó un estudio observacional basado en el registro de la EK en 64 centros pediátricos participantes de 19 países latinoamericanos de forma retrospectiva entre el 1 de enero de 2009 y el 31 de diciembre de 2013, y de forma prospectiva desde el 1 de junio de 2014 hasta el 31 de mayo de 2017. Se recopilaron datos demográficos, clínicos y de laboratorio iniciales. Se utilizó una regresión logística que incorporaba factores clínicos y la puntuación z máxima de la arteria coronaria en la presentación inicial (entre 10 días antes y 5 días después de la inmunoglobulina intravenosa [IGIV]) para desarrollar un modelo pronóstico de AAC durante el seguimiento (>5 días después de la IGIV). Resultados: De 1853 pacientes con EK, el ingreso tardío (>10 días tras el inicio de la fiebre) se produjo en el 16%, el 25% tuvo EK incompleta y el 11% fue resistente a la IGIV. Entre los 671 sujetos con puntuación z de la arteria coronaria notificada durante el seguimiento (mediana: 79 días; IQR: 36, 186), el 21% presentaba AAC, incluido un 4% con aneurismas gigantes. Un modelo pronóstico simple que utilizaba sólo una puntuación z de la arteria coronaria máxima ≥2,5 en la presentación inicial fue óptimo para predecir la AAC durante el seguimiento (área bajo la curva: 0,84; IC del 95%: 0,80, 0,88). Conclusiones: De nuestra población latinoamericana, la puntuación z de la arteria coronaria ≥2,5 en la presentación inicial fue el factor pronóstico más importante que precedió a la AAC durante el seguimiento. Estos resultados resaltan la importancia de la ecocardiografía temprana durante la presentación inicial de la EK. © 2023 Los autoresObjectives: To describe the clinical presentation, management, and outcomes of Kawasaki disease (KD) in Latin America and to evaluate early prognostic indicators of coronary artery aneurysm (CAA). Study design: An observational KD registry-based study was conducted in 64 participating pediatric centers across 19 Latin American countries retrospectively between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2013, and prospectively from June 1, 2014, to May 31, 2017. Demographic and initial clinical and laboratory data were collected. Logistic regression incorporating clinical factors and maximum coronary artery z-score at initial presentation (between 10 days before and 5 days after intravenous immunoglobulin [IVIG]) was used to develop a prognostic model for CAA during follow-up (>5 days after IVIG). Results: Of 1853 patients with KD, delayed admission (>10 days after fever onset) occurred in 16%, 25% had incomplete KD, and 11% were resistant to IVIG. Among 671 subjects with reported coronary artery z-score during follow-up (median: 79 days; IQR: 36, 186), 21% had CAA, including 4% with giant aneurysms. A simple prognostic model utilizing only a maximum coronary artery z-score ≥2.5 at initial presentation was optimal to predict CAA during follow-up (area under the curve: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.80, 0.88). Conclusion: From our Latin American population, coronary artery z-score ≥2.5 at initial presentation was the most important prognostic factor preceding CAA during follow-up. These results highlight the importance of early echocardiography during the initial presentation of KD. © 2023 The Author(s

Development and Evaluation of an NTM-IGRA to Guide Pediatric Lymphadenitis Diagnosis

Background: Diagnosis of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections remains a challenge. In this study, we describe the evaluation of an immunological NTM-interferon (IFN)-γ release assay (IGRA) that we developed using glycopeptidolipids (GPLs) as NTM-specific antigens. Methods: We tested the NTM-IGRA in 99 samples from pediatric patients. Seventy-five were patients with lymphadenitis: 25 were NTM confirmed, 45 were of unknown etiology but compatible with mycobacterial infection and 5 had lymphadenitis caused by an etiologic agent other than NTM. The remaining 24 samples were from control individuals without lymphadenitis (latently infected with M.Tuberculosis, uninfected controls and active tuberculosis patients). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated overnight with GPLs. Detection of IFN-γ producing cells was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunospot assay. Results: NTM culture-confirmed lymphadenitis patient samples had a significantly higher response to GPLs than the patients with lymphadenitis of unknown etiology but compatible with mycobacterial infection (P < 0.001) and lymphadenitis not caused by NTM (P < 0.01). We analyzed the response against GPLs in samples from unknown etiology lymphadenitis but compatible with mycobacterial infection cases according to the tuberculin skin test (TST) response, and although not statistically significant, those with a TST ≥5 mm had a higher response to GPLs when compared with the TST <5 mm group. Conclusions: Stimulation with GPLs yielded promising results in detecting NTM infection in pediatric patients with lymphadenitis. Our results indicate that the test could be useful to guide the diagnosis of pediatric lymphadenitis. This new NTM-IGRA could improve the clinical handling of NTM-infected patients and avoid unnecessary misdiagnosis and treatments

Decoding the massive genome of loblolly pine using haploid DNA and novel assembly strategies

BACKGROUND: The size and complexity of conifer genomes has, until now, prevented full genome sequencing and assembly. The large research community and economic importance of loblolly pine, Pinus taeda L., made it an early candidate for reference sequence determination. RESULTS: We develop a novel strategy to sequence the genome of loblolly pine that combines unique aspects of pine reproductive biology and genome assembly methodology. We use a whole genome shotgun approach relying primarily on next generation sequence generated from a single haploid seed megagametophyte from a loblolly pine tree, 20-1010, that has been used in industrial forest tree breeding. The resulting sequence and assembly was used to generate a draft genome spanning 23.2 Gbp and containing 20.1 Gbp with an N50 scaffold size of 66.9 kbp, making it a significant improvement over available conifer genomes. The long scaffold lengths allow the annotation of 50,172 gene models with intron lengths averaging over 2.7 kbp and sometimes exceeding 100 kbp in length. Analysis of orthologous gene sets identifies gene families that may be unique to conifers. We further characterize and expand the existing repeat library based on the de novo analysis of the repetitive content, estimated to encompass 82% of the genome. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to its value as a resource for researchers and breeders, the loblolly pine genome sequence and assembly reported here demonstrates a novel approach to sequencing the large and complex genomes of this important group of plants that can now be widely applied