Interactions between West Nile Virus and the Microbiota of Culex pipiens Vectors: A Literature Review

The flavivirus West Nile virus (WNV) naturally circulates between mosquitoes and birds, potentially affecting humans and horses. Different species of mosquitoes play a role as vectors of WNV, with those of the Culex pipiens complex being particularly crucial for its circulation. Different biotic and abiotic factors determine the capacity of mosquitoes for pathogen transmission, with the mosquito gut microbiota being recognized as an important one. Here, we review the published studies on the interactions between the microbiota of the Culex pipiens complex and WNV infections in mosquitoes. Most articles published so far studied the interactions between bacteria of the genus Wolbachia and WNV infections, obtaining variable results regarding the directionality of this relationship. In contrast, only a few studies investigate the role of the whole microbiome or other bacterial taxa in WNV infections. These studies suggest that bacteria of the genera Serratia and Enterobacter may enhance WNV development. Thus, due to the relevance of WNV in human and animal health and the important role of mosquitoes ofthe Cx. pipiens complex in its transmission, more research is needed to unravel the role of mosquito microbiota and those factors affecting this microbiota on pathogen epidemiology. In this respect, we finally propose future lines of research lines on this topic.This research was funded by the MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (grant number PID2020-118205GB-I00) and the Junta de Andalucía, Consejería de Universidad, Investigación e Innovación (grant number P21_00049). The current contracts of M. Garrigós and J.V. are financed by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (grant numbers PRE2021-098544 and FJC2021-048057-I, respectively). In addition, M. Garrido and J.V. were financed by the Spanish Ministry of Universities (Margarita Salas and María Zambrano programs, respectively). The APC was funded by University of Granada

Survival effects of antibiotic exposure during the larval and adult stages in the West Nile virus vector Culex pipiens

The ability of mosquitoes to transmit a pathogen is affected, among other factors, by their survival rate, which is partly modulated by their microbiota. Mosquito microbiota is acquired during the larval phase and modified during their development and adult feeding behavior, being highly dependent on environmental factors. Pharmaceutical residues including antibiotics are widespread pollutants potentially being present in mosquito breeding waters likely affecting their microbiota. Here, we used Culex pipiens mosquitoes to assess the impact of antibiotic exposure during the larval and adult stages on the survival rate of adult mosquitoes. Wild-collected larvae were randomly assigned to two treatments: larvae maintained in water supplemented with antibiotics and control larvae. Emerged adults were subsequently assigned to each of two treatments, fed with sugar solution with antibiotics and fed only with sugar solution (controls). Larval exposure to antibiotics significantly increased the survival rate of adult females that received a control diet. In addition, the effect of adult exposure to antibiotics on the survival rate of both male and female mosquitoes depended on the number of days that larvae fed ad libitum in the laboratory before emergence. In particular, shorter larval ad libitum feeding periods reduced the survival rate of antibiotic-treated adult mosquitoes compared with those that emerged after a longer larval feeding period. These differences were not found in control adult mosquitoes. Our results extend the current understanding of the impact of antibiotic exposure of mosquitoes on a key component of vectorial capacity, that is the vector survival rate.MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 [grant number PID2020-118205GB-I00]Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation [grant numbers PRE2021-098544 and FJC2021-048057-I]Spanish Ministry of Universities [Margarita Salas and María Zambrano programs]Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Granada / CBU

Aedes albopictus in a recently invaded area in Spain: effects of trap type, locality, and season on mosquito captures

Mosquitoes are primary vectors of pathogens impacting humans, wildlife, and livestock. Among them, the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, stands out as an invasive species with a global distribution, having established populations on every continent except Antarctica. Recent findings incriminate Ae. albopictus in the local transmission of several pathogens causing human diseases, including dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses and worm parasites as Dirofilaria. In Spain, the establishment of Ae. albopictus occurred in 2004 and it rapidly expanded, currently reaching southern provinces and creating novel epidemiological scenarios in recently invaded areas. In this study, we conducted captures of Ae. albopictus from May to November 2022 in two provinces, Granada and Malaga, situated near the current edge of the species' expanding range in Spain. The objective was to identify the primary factors influencing their captures in these regions. Mosquitoes were captured using BG-Sentinel traps baited with CO2 and BG-Lure, and miniature CDC-UV traps in five different localities. Our findings underscore the influence of both extrinsic factors, such as locality, and intrinsic factors, including mosquito sex, on the abundance of captured Ae. albopictus. A higher abundance of Ae. albopictus was observed in the Malaga province compared to localities in the Granada province. Furthermore, similar numbers of Ae. albopictus mosquitoes were captured in more urbanized areas of Granada, while the lowest counts were recorded in the less urbanized area. These results were compared to captures of another common species in the area, specifically Culex pipiens. Overall, these results represent the first monitoring of invasive Ae. albopictus in the area and are discussed in the light of the potential importance of the species as a nuisance for humans and vectors of pathogens of public health relevance.This study was financed by the PID2020-118205GB-I00 grant to JMP funded by MCIN/AEI/https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033. Additional support derived from the CNS2022-135993 grant of the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MCIN/AEI/https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033) with funding from European Union NextGenerationEU. Mario Garrido was supported by the María Zambrano program and the P9 program for the Incorporation of Young Doctors funded by Spanish Ministry of Universities, the European Union-NextGenerationEU, and the University of Granada. Jesús Veiga received financial support from the Margarita Salas and Juan de la Cierva (FJC2021-048057-I) programs funded by Spanish Ministry of Universities, the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the European Union-NextGenerationEU. Marta Garrigós was supported by a FPI grant (PRE2021-098544). Mario Garrido is currently granted by the PID2022-137746NA-I00 funded by Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. We greatly appreciate the support given by the “Grupo de Investigación Comportamiento y Ecología Animal” of the University of Granada for the field sampling

La estructura argumental y su aplicación a la enseñanza de ELE: El caso de los pronombres átonos de complemento

[ES] En la enseñanza de ELE, el docente se encuentra con un buen número de aspectos gramaticales complejos ante los que debe ofrecer una descripción coherente con el uso, y fácil de asimilar por parte de un estudiante que no suele tener formación lingüística previa. Para lograrlo, defendemos en este trabajo que la formación gramatical del profesor es esencial y, en ese sentido, mostramos un caso ilustrativo: cómo la estructura argumental de un predicado y la teoría de las valencias derivada de L. Tesnière pueden ayudar en el aprendizaje del uso de los pronombres átonos de complemento.[EN] In the teaching of ELE, the teacher encounters a good number of complex grammatical aspects before which he must offer a description that is coherent with the use, and easy to assimilate by a student who usually does not have any previous linguistic training. To achieve this, we defend in this work that the teacher’s grammar training is essential and, in this sense, we show an illustrative case: how the argument structure of a predicate and the theory of valences derived from L. Tesnière can help in learning the use of unstressed complement pronouns

Temas Socio-Jurídicos. Volumen 31 No. 63 Diciembre de 2012

La revista Temas Socio-jurídicos es una publicación seriada del Centro de Investigaciones Socio-jurídicas, dependencia adscrita a la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga, que se dirige principalmente a abogados, profesionales de las ciencias sociales y humanas, a estudiantes de derecho y de ciencias sociales y humanas.The Socio-legal Issues magazine is a serial publication of the Center for Socio-legal Research, a dependency attached to the Faculty of Law of the Autonomous University of Bucaramanga, which is mainly aimed at lawyers, professionals in the social and human sciences, students of law and social and human sciences

Elaboración de un manual de prácticas para su utilización en asignaturas impartidas por el Departamento de Parasitología

Esta propuesta se presenta como segunda fase del proyecto 20-115, desarrollado durante el periodo 2020-2022 (Plan FIDO UGR). Durante dicho proyecto se han digitalizado 1500 imágenes de parásitos que engloban multitud de especies, incluyendo: protozoos, trematodos, cestodos, nematodos y artrópodos, así como 12000 fotografías necesarias para obtener otras tantas imágenes por la técnica del apilado. Con el ingente material producido se ha elaborado un protocolo de prácticas común para ser utilizado por el alumnado que realice sus prácticas en asignaturas impartidas por el Departamento de Parasitología.Vicerrectorado de Calidad, Innovación Docente y Estudios de Grado-Universidad de Granad

Cine en compañía para prevenir enfermedades

El proyecto “Cine en compañía para prevenir enfermedades” es continuación del proyecto iniciado en 2017 (INNOVA-Docencia 18/2018, ApS-UCM 18/2019) y se encuadra en el campo de Salud Pública, higiene y prevención de enfermedad, dirigido a personas desfavorecidas o en riesgo de exclusión social. En esta edición se ha ampliado el área de conocimiento y profesores participantes, incluyendo no solo enfermedades infecciosas, como en ediciones anteriores, sino otras del ámbito de la Bioquímica y Biología Molecular. El proyecto es multidisciplinar e interfacultativo (21 tutores: profesores, colaboradores postdoctorales, doctorandos, estudiantes participantes en ediciones anteriores y técnico de laboratorio, de las Facultades de Farmacia, Biología y Medicina y del Hospital 12 de Octubre) y en él han participado 41 estudiantes de distintos Grados (Biología, Bioquímica, Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Derecho, Farmacia, Ingeniería Electrónica) y Postgrados (Máster en Biología Sanitaria, y en Microbiología y Parasitología: Investigación y Desarrollo; Doctorado en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular) y participantes en la asignatura Transversal “Ciencia para la Sociedad”. La necesidad social detectada y atendida es la situación de algunos colectivos, por ejemplo, personas sin hogar, mujeres en exclusión, adictos a drogas, presidiarios o familias residentes en áreas no salubres, de una mayor exposición a determinadas enfermedades debido a sus condiciones de vida (enfermedades infecciosas, mentales, metabólicas derivadas de adicciones o alcoholismo), además de que encuentran escasas posibilidades de conocer cómo prevenirlas y la forma adecuada de recibir tratamiento. Adicionalmente, y no menos importante, acusan una carencia severa de compañía, atención y escucha de sus necesidades. Los estudiantes de universidad que cursan estudios en el campo de Ciencias y Ciencias de la Salud estudian estas enfermedades, por lo que pueden ayudar a estos colectivos en la mejora de prácticas higiénico-sanitarias, así como al acceso a la información para su prevención y tratamiento. Las actividades desarrolladas en el proyecto han consistido en el acompañamiento y desarrollo de una actividad lúdica mediante la proyección de películas comerciales que traten una enfermedad de interés en el colectivo a atender, seguida de coloquio para ayudar a conocer las formas adecuadas de prevención y tratamiento. Los equipos de 4-5 estudiantes (de distintas titulaciones y cursos) y dos tutores (senior y junior) han realizado varias visitas a centros sociales atendidos por Fundaciones con las que existe convenio de la UCM (centros de día para personas sin hogar, mujeres en exclusión, discapacitados o presidiarios, gestionados por Cáritas, Hogar-Sí, Diaconía, Medinacelli). Han investigado en profundidad las enfermedades que afectan y de interés del grupo atendido, seleccionado y analizado críticamente películas adecuadas, preparado materiales divulgativos (carteles, juegos) y diseñado y analizado encuestas para evaluar su actividad por parte de las personas atendidas y los coordinadores de los centros. Los resultados de las encuestas a todos los participantes (tutores, estudiantes, centros) y la recogida de opiniones y memorias de los estudiantes muestran una alta consecución de los objetivos de aprendizaje previstos, refuerzo de contenidos específicos de los estudios y, sobre todo, trabajo y adquisición de competencias transversales como trabajo en equipo, coordinación y asunción de responsabilidades, análisis crítico o expresión científica divulgativa. En cuanto a los objetivos de servicio, destaca la utilidad del proyecto en atención e información a los colectivos, la aplicación de los estudios a situaciones reales en atención a personas desfavorecidas y el valor social del proyecto

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio